Triglochin concinna Davy   var. concinna   Juncaginaceae (Arrow Weed Family)    Native   Slender Arrow-Grass   Round-leaved Arrow Grass

                             May Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Perennial, from spreading to ascending rhizomes, to 4.5 dm. tall; lvs. less than 20 cm., +/- 1 mm. wide, subcylindric, +/- fleshy; ligule 0.5-1.5 mm., 2-lobed; infls. 2 or more per plant, longer than lvs.; pedicels less than 5 mm. ascending; perianth parts generally 6, +/- 1.5 mm.; stamens generally 6; fertile ovaries 6; frs. 6 per fl., less than 5 mm. long, oblong-ovoid, falling from axis.

Habitat:  Coastal Salt Marsh, San Diego and Los Angeles cos.; alkaline flats and boggy places below 7500 ft.; Montane Coniferous F.; San Bernardino Mts.; Sierra Nevada to Alaska, Atlantic Coast, Eurasia.  April-Aug.

Name:  Greek, tri, three, and glochis, a point, referring to the fr. of some spp.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 917).  Latin, concinnus, neat, skillfully joined.  (Jaeger 64).  It is not clear what part of the plant is referred to by the species name.  (my comment).

General:  Occasional in the study area.  Photographed on the North Star Flats.  (my comments).      The seeds were parched and ground into flower by several western Indian groups.  Early western pioneers used the roasted seeds as a substitute for coffee.  The plants, especially in times of drought, often contain toxic quantities of hydrocyanic acid and have caused much death in livestock.  The seeds are rendered safe by parching or roasting since the poison is quite volatile. (ref. not recorded).      Arrow-grass is suspected of causing losses among cattle and sheep although it is not known to have caused serious trouble.  (Robbins et al. 41).       One of the native halophytes listed as occurring in Upper Newport Bay. (Zedler 16).    (For the entire list of native halophytes see Spartina foliosa. (my comment).      Arrow grass is the earliest growing species in southern California marshes.  It usually sprouts, flowers, and dies to the ground while other marsh plants are just initiating growth.  Perhaps its early timing is in response to cool, rainy conditions, while other species are cued to longer day lengths or warmer weather.  Patchy distributions are characteristic of the vegetatively reproducing species, while its absence at marshes such as the San Diego River suggest that it has limited establishment ability.  (Zedler 28-29).      About 12 species of temperate and cooler parts of  both hemispheres.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 917). 

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 1168; Mason 99; Munz, Calif. Flora 1321; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 917; Roberts 44.

Photo Ref:  May 5 83 # 8, 9; Sept. 1 83 # 2; April 2 87 # 8A, 9A.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.

First Found:  May 1983.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 67.

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 6/9/04.  

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