Plants of
South Australia
Triglochin sp. A Flora of Australia (G.J.Keighery 2477)
Juncaginaceae
Arrowgrass,
Spurred Arrowgrass
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Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
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Prior names

Triglochin sp.A.

Triglochin calcitrapum, orth.var., partly

Triglochin calcitrapa, partly

Triglochin sp. A (N.N.Donner 3596)

Triglochin calcitrapa var. sessiliflora, nom.illeg., partly

Triglochin calcitrapum, orth.var., partly

Common names

Arrowgrass

Spurred Arrowgrass

Etymology

Triglochin from the Greek 'treis' meaning three and 'glochis' meaning a point; referring to its three-sided carpels. The species is un-named and the phrase name was used in the The Flora of Australia, volume 39 .

Distribution and status

Found in the north-eastern part of South Australia, growing on margins of pools & salt lakes, winter-wet areas and temporarily damp soil in a variety of habitats. Also found in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Native.
Herbarium regions: Lake Eyre, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eastern
NRM region: South Australian Arid Lands
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Small tufted, upright to decumbent annual herb to 10 cm high. Leaves flat and thread-like, usually longer than the inflorescence. Inflorescence with fruiting part at the top. Flowering between June and September. Fruits are purple or straw-coloured narrowly pyramid fruit on a very short stalk with six seed segments (carpels), 3 fertile alternating with 3 undeveloped sterile ones. Seeds are purple or straw-coloured narrow wedge-shaped seed with 2 lateral spurs at the base. Seed embryo type is linear.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between August and November. Collect mature fruits either by breaking off individual spikes or by removing plants that are drying off with fruits that are straw-colour and seed segments coming apart easily. Place the fruit spikes in a tray and leave to dry for 1 to 2 weeks. Then rub the dried fruit spikes with a rubber bung to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate any unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place.

Seeds stored:
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LocationNo. of seeds
(weight grams)
Number
of plants
Date
collected
Collection number
Collection location
Date
stored
% ViabilityStorage
temperature
 
MSB

3,200 (2.25 g)
100+10-Sep-2008MJT173
Eastern
100%
Location: BGA — the seeds are stored at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, MSB — the seeds are stored at the Millennium Seed Bank, Kew, England.
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.