Triglochin maritima

Seaside arrowgrass

Juncaginaceae Edible: Tubers, Root, Seeds, Caution, Leaves Potential hazards — see below 8,931 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Triglochin maritima is a species of flowering plant in the arrowgrass family Juncaginaceae. It is found in brackish marshes, freshwater marshes, wet sandy beaches, fens, damp grassland and bogs. It has a circumboreal distribution, occurring throughout the northern Northern Hemisphere. In the British Isles it is common on the coast, but very rare inland.

Description

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. There are small tubers underground. It has a stout underground stem or rhizome. The leaves are narrow and thick. There are about 7 leaves that are 30 cm long by 1-4 mm wide. The flowers are greenish. They are 2-3 mm across. The fruit are 3-4 mm across.

Edible Uses

The white base of the leaf stem can be eaten raw or cooked and is best harvested in late spring. It has a pleasant, mild, sweet taste somewhat like cucumber. An unpleasant odour develops during cooking. The green parts of the plant should not be eaten as they can contain a toxin; only the bases of leaf stems should be used, not the bases of flowering stems. The seed can be parched and ground into a powder, and the roasted seed serves as a coffee substitute.

Traditional Uses

The tubers are eaten after roasting. The young white leaves are cooked and eaten. The seeds are used as food after parching or roasting. Caution: It can contain hydrocyanic acid. This can be removed by cooking.

Medicinal Uses

None known

Known Hazards

The green leaves of plants can contain a toxic cyanogenic glycoside, it is especially present during and just after a drought and is particularly toxic to ruminants. Plants growing in Britain are usually perfectly safe, this is probably due to the climate.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows in marshes below 5,200 m above sea level in China. It can grow in brackish or salty wet soils. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Alaska, Asia, Balkans, Bhutan, Bosnia, Canada, Central Asia, Europe, Himalayas, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, North America, Northeastern India, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Scandinavia, Sikkim, Sweden, Tajikistan, Tibet, USA,

Cultivation

Succeeds in shallow water or a bog garden. Possibly requires saline conditions.

Propagation

Sow seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe where possible, standing the pots in about 2cm of water. Prick seedlings out into individual pots when large enough to handle, and plant out during summer. Propagate by division in spring. Larger divisions can go directly into permanent positions; smaller divisions are best potted up and grown on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until establishing well, then planted out in summer or the following spring.

Other Uses

The plant's ashes are rich in potassium and can be used in soap making.

Other Information

The leaves are foraged and eaten in restaurants in Sweden.

Notes

There are about 15 Triglochin species. They grow in marshes in temperate regions.

Synonyms

Triglochin ani KochTriglochin roegneri C. KochTriglochin transcaucasica Bordzil.and others

Also Known As

Chaklamsar, Fjaeresaulok, Gaike, Girge, Morska brulja, Puga

References (13)

Beckstrom-Sternberg, Stephen M., and James A. Duke. "The Foodplant Database." http://probe.nalusda.gov:8300/cgi-bin/browse/foodplantdb.(ACEDB version 4.0 - data version July 1994)
Bowser, M., 2017, Handout on Edible Plants of the Kenai Peninsula. USFWS Kenai National Wildlife Refuge p 14
Flora of Pakistan. www.eFloras.org
Girard, N. J., 2020, Sustainable Foraging of Wild Edible Plants in Norway. A Biocultural Approach. M. Sc. thesis Norwegian University. p 132
http://nordicfood lab/org/blog/2102/9/wild-edible-plants-an-overview

Show all 13 references

Hwang, H., et al, 2013, A Study on the Flora of 15 Islands in the Western Sea of Jeollanamdo Province, Korea. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Vol. 6, No. 2 281-310
Kaul, M.K. et al, 1985, Ethno-botanic studies in North-West and Trans-Himalaya - contribution to the wild food plants of Ladakh. J.Econo. Tax. Bot. Vol. 6 No. 3 pp 523-527
Luczaj, L. et al, 2012, Wild food plant use in 21st century Europe: the disappearance of old traditions and the search for new cuisines involving wild edibles. Acta Soc Bot Pol 81(4):359–370
Moerman, D. F., 2010, Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press. p 567
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Sp. pl. 1:339. 1753 "maritimum"
Turner, N., 1995, Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples. Royal BC Museum Handbook p 36
Urgamal, M., et al, 2014, Conspectus of the Vascular Plants of Mongolia. Mongolia Academy of Sciences Institute of Botany and National University of Mongolia Department of Biology. p 39