Triglochin palustris

Marsh arrow grass, Slender arrow-grass

Juncaginaceae Edible: Seeds, Stem, Tubers, Root Potential hazards — see below 2,317 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Triglochin palustris or marsh arrowgrass is a species of flowering plant in the arrowgrass family Juncaginaceae. It is found in damp grassland usually on calcareous soils, fens and meadows. The species epithet palustris is Latin for "of the marsh" and indicates its common habitat. It has a circumboreal distribution, occurring throughout northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere. It can be found locally in the British Isles especially the north.

Description

A delicate herb. It has a bulb like rootstock. It keeps growing from year to year. The branches are short and thread like and come from the bulb. The leaves are 20 cm long by 1 mm wide. The flowers are loosely arranged. The fruit are 6-7 mm long by 1.5 mm wide.

Edible Uses

The white base of the leaf stem can be eaten raw or cooked and has a sweet flavour, though an unpleasant odour develops during cooking. The green parts of the plant should not be eaten as they can contain a toxin. The seed can be parched and ground into a powder, and the roasted seed serves as a coffee substitute.

Traditional Uses

The tubers are roasted and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

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 pant. It grows in limestone and boggy places. In Pakistan it grows in fresh water locations in mountainous regions. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 3,900 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Africa, Alaska, Argentina, Asia, Bhutan, Britain, Canada, Central Asia, Chile, China, Europe, Himalayas, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Nepal, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Russia, Sikkim, South America, Tajikistan, Tibet, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, USA, Uzbekistan,

Cultivation

Succeeds in shallow water or a bog garden. This plant does not seem to require high salt levels for its survival.

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

None known

Notes

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

Synonyms

Triglochin himalensis Royle

Also Known As

Chamlamsar, Gaike, Girge, Puga

References (7)

Bowser, M., 2017, Handout on Edible Plants of the Kenai Peninsula. USFWS Kenai National Wildlife Refuge p 14
Flora of Pakistan. www.eFloras.org
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
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Porsild, A.E., 1974, Rocky Mountain Wild Flowers. Natural History Series No. 2 National Museums of Canada. p 44

Show all 7 references

Sp. pl. 1:338. 1753 "palustre"
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