Triglochin L.

Annual or perennial, minute to robust, aquatic or wetland herbs; roots of annual species fibrous; rhizomes present in perennial species, rarely bulbs. Leaves ± linear to terete; basal sheath usually tapered or auriculate or ligulate. Inflorescence a raceme or spike. Flowers usually bisexual, or the lower ones in the inflorescence sometimes female in annuals or (in T. scilloides) also with sessile basal female flowers with elongated styles axillary in a leaf sheath. Perianth of perennials 3 + 3 (both whorls similar), 0–6 in annuals where often variable in number within a species and between terminal and nonterminal flowers. Stamens 6 in perennials, variably 1–6 in annuals. Carpels usually 3–6, irregularly 2–8, united, or (in T. scilloides) unilocular but probably 3-carpellate; central axis mostly present (but absent in T. scilloides); ovule basal and erect, anatropous; endosperm formation nuclear; style short and thick with a papillose or hairy and often lateral stigma, or (in basal female flowers of T. scilloides) long and threadlike and terminating in an expanded stigma. Fertile fruiting carpels hard or follicle-like, usually indehiscent, smooth or with hooks, spurs, keels or wings, usually readily separating and falling at maturity except in a few annual species.

Predominantly in marshy localities, or in the water; some spp. in semi-arid countries.