Greek tris – three, glochis – pointed, referring to the protrusions on the carpel.
Annual, short-lived or perennial herbs, often tufted, with or without tubers. Leaves erect, cylindrical, basal, linear. Flower clusters in a spike or raceme. Flowers bisexual, 3-parted. Perianth segments 6 in 2 whorls, soon shed. Stamens 6. Carpels 6 or 3, each with 1 ovule. Fruits separating.
Occasionally grown as poolside or aquatic plants, mostly for the native garden or planting.
17 species, cosmopolitan.Australia has about 14 native species.
Seed or division.
The young leaves and rhizomes of T. maritimum are eaten and its fruit used as bird seed. Some other species contain hydrogen cyanide and are poisonous to stock. T. procerum is used as a food by Aborigines.
Plantain-like herbs of wet or aquatic sites; leaves sheathing at the base; flowers 3- parted; ovules erect.
Source: (2005). Juncaginaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
