Triglochin scilloides
An aquatic annual herb with floating stigmas and onionlike leaves.
Triglochin scilloides, once classified as Lilaea scilloides and commonly called flowering quillwort, is an aquatic herb native to a range stretching from western Canada down through Mexico, as well as across western and southern South America. It has also become established in Portugal and Spain. For a time, it was the sole species recognized within the genus Lilaea.
This annual plant grows in or near shallow water, such as vernal pools, mudflats, streams, ponds, and ditches. It forms a clump of narrow, onion-like basal leaves around a very short stem. Each leaf is long and pointed, reaching 25 to 40 cm, and is wrapped in a translucent sheath at its base. The plant produces different types of flowers: clusters of male and bisexual flowers at the tip of a slender stalk, plus female flowers in underwater leaf axils. Each female flower has a threadlike style that can extend up to 30 cm, tipped with a stigma that floats on the water's surface. The fruit is a ribbed, beaked nutlet up to 1 cm long.
First described in 1804 by Jean Louis Marie Poiret as *Phalangium scilloides*, it was moved to the genus *Lilaea* in 1925, where it was once considered the only species. In 2010, it was reclassified as *Triglochin scilloides*, the name accepted by Plants of the World Online as of March 2024.
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Triglochin scilloides
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Triglochin scilloides is an annual herb that grows in or just next to water in shallow aquatic habitats such as vernal pools, mudflats, streams, ponds, and ditches. The plant forms a tuft of basal leaves around a very short stem; each leaf is narrow, long, and pointed, reaching 25 to 40 cm in length, and is wrapped in a translucent sheath at the base. The inflorescences include clusters of staminate and bisexual flowers at the tip of a narrow stalk, as well as pistillate flowers in underwater axils. The pistillate flower has a threadlike style up to 30 cm long, tipped with a stigma that floats on the water surface. The fruit is a beaked, ribbed nutlet up to 1 cm long.
Reader's Guide
The species was first described in 1804 by Jean Louis Marie Poiret as Phalangium scilloides. In 1925, it was moved to the genus Lilaea as Lilaea scilloides, where it was at one time accepted as the only species in a monotypic genus. In 2010, it was moved to Triglochin scilloides, the name accepted by Plants of the World Online as of March 2024. Its English name, flowering quillwort, reflects its quill-like leaves. The plant's ability to produce both aerial and underwater flowers, with the pistillate stigma floating on the water surface, is a notable adaptation to its aquatic environment. Its introduction to Portugal and Spain demonstrates its capacity to establish outside its native range.
Did You Know?
- At one time, it was the only species accepted in the genus Lilaea.
- It has been introduced into Portugal and Spain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Triglochin scilloides?
It is an annual aquatic herb commonly known as flowering quillwort, distinguished by its tight clump of narrow, onion-shaped basal leaves and floating stigmas. The species was first described in 1804 by Jean Louis Marie Poiret under the name Phalangium scilloides.
Where does Triglochin scilloides grow in the wild?
Its native range stretches from western Canada down through Mexico and across western and southern South America. It favors shallow-water habitats such as vernal pools, mudflats, streams, ponds, and ditches.
How big does Triglochin scilloides get?
Individual basal leaves can reach 25 to 40 cm in length, while the pistillate style extends up to 30 cm. The resulting fruit is relatively small, measuring up to about 1 cm.
Why was Triglochin scilloides reclassified out of the genus Lilaea?
For a period it was the sole recognized species in the genus Lilaea, but later taxonomic revisions moved it into Triglochin. This reflects a broader reshuffling of how botanists grouped its close relatives.
Has Triglochin scilloides spread beyond its native continents?
Yes; it has become established in parts of Portugal and Spain, making it a notable introduced aquatic plant in those European regions.
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