# common arrowgrass (*Triglochin maritima*) Common arrowgrass is a special plant that grows in wet areas like marshes and along coastlines. It has long, thin leaves and small green flowers that can be hard to see. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![common arrowgrass](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Stranddreizack.jpg&width=800) Photo: Elke Freese, CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stranddreizack.jpg) ## Appearance The common arrowgrass has stiff, narrow, grass-like leaves growing in clumps. Its tiny, greenish-yellow to purplish flowers appear on a tall, slender stalk that rises above the foliage. It stands out in wetlands due to its unique, inconspicuous flower spike. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Alismatales - **Family:** Juncaginaceae - **Genus:** Triglochin ## Interesting facts - Despite its grass-like look, it's actually related to beautiful water plantains! - Its three-lobed fruit gives it part of its scientific name, 'Triglochin'! - Its tiny, green flowers don't have showy petals; they let the wind do the work! - This tough plant grows from North America all the way to chilly Siberia! ## Special abilities - **Salt-Proof Survivor:** Common arrowgrass can thrive in salty water, an adaptation that helps it survive where many other plants cannot. - **Chemical Shield:** Common arrowgrass contains cyanogenic glycosides that help it defend against hungry animals trying to eat its leaves. - **Underground Spreader:** Common arrowgrass has creeping rhizomes, underground stems that help it spread and colonize new wet areas. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-60 cm - **Spread:** 5-15 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.1-0.2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Mallard (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — eats seeds from the plant - **Eats:** Meadow Vole (*Microtus pennsylvanicus*) — grazes on leaves and roots - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses on the foliage ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always stay on paths when exploring wetlands, and don't touch plants without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify common arrowgrass? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is common arrowgrass? 10-60 cm ### How wide does common arrowgrass spread? 5-15 cm ### How big are the flowers on common arrowgrass? 0.1-0.2 cm ### When does common arrowgrass bloom? Late spring to summer ### Is common arrowgrass edible? No ### Is common arrowgrass toxic? Moderate ### What is common arrowgrass's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Naturpark Dahme-Heideseen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-dahme-heideseen) — Brandenburg, DE · Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Common Arrowgrass: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-arrowgrass)