Practical
Plants

Triglochin maritima

Sea Arrow Grass

a perennial member of the Triglochin genus in the family Juncaginaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[13][14]. Plants growing in Britain are usually perfectly safe, this is probably due to the climate[13].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The white base of the leaf stem can be eaten raw or cooked[10][11][14][1]. Best harvested in late spring, the white base has a pleasant mild sweet taste, somewhat like cucumber[8]. An unpleasant odour is produced whilst the plant is being cooked[12]. The green parts of the plant should not be eaten since they can contain a toxin[5]. Only the bases of leaf stems should be used, and not the bases of flowering stems[8]. See notes at top of the page. Seed - parched and ground into a powder[14][2][3][5][9]. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[3][5][7].

Product or use
Coffee
Plant part
Seed
Plant part
Stem

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The ashes of the plant are rich in potassium and can be used in making soap[12].

Product or use
Soap making

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from the Arctic south and east to N. Africa, W. and N. Asia. N. America.
Habitat
Salt marshes and grassy places near the sea[15][4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
aquatic
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Tolerances
high wind
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe if this is possible. Stand the pots in about 2cm of water. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring[6]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in shallow water or a bog garden[6]. Possibly requires saline conditions[K].

References

  1. Haywood. V. H. Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-217674-9

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  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩1↩2

  4. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  5. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  7. Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093

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  8. Turner. N. J. Food Plants of Coastal First Peoples UBC Press. Vancouver. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7748-0533-1

    ↩1↩2

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

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  10. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

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  11. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

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  12. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  13. Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984-00-00 ISBN 0112425291

    ↩1↩2

  14. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

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