Botanical art
Prior names
Triglochin ovoideum, orth.var.
Triglochin hexagonum, orth.var.
Triglochin ovoideum, orth.var.
Triglochin hexagonum, orth.var.
Triglochin ovoidea
Common names
Six-point Arrowgrass
Etymology
Triglochin from the Greek 'treis' meaning three and 'glochis' meaning a point; referring to its three-sided carpels. Hexagona from the Greek 'hex' meaning six and 'gonia' meaning angle; referring to its six angled fruit.
Distribution and status
Found in the eastern side of South Australia, north of the Murray River, growing in shallow seasonal or ephemeral wetlands and in slightly saline areas, in sandy to clayey soils. Also found in all mainland states. Native. Uncommon in South Australia. Rare in Victoria. Uncommon in Queensland and New South Wales. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Slender weak annual herb to 7.5 cm high. Leaves flat and thread-like, to 7.5 cm long, usually equal to or exceeding the inflorescence. Inflorescence an erect or ascending spike to 5.2 cm long fruiting part at the top to 1.3 cm long with 10-25 fruits. Flowering in response to rainfall. Fruits are straw-coloured angular-oblong fruit to 1.2 mm long and 1 mm wide, with six angles and six seed segments (carpels), 3 fertile alternating with 3 undeveloped sterile ones. Seeds are straw-coloured wedge-shaped seed to 1.2 mm long and 1 mm wide, with 4 lateral wings. Seed embryo type is linear.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between January and December. 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. From one collection, the seed viability was high, at 100%.
| Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGA MSB | 7,800 (1.15 g) 7,800 (1.15 g) | 50+ | 3-Apr-2007 | RJB71294 Eastern | 1-Aug-2007 | 100% | -18°C |
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.