TRIGLOCHIN, in botany: A genus of plants belonging to the class of hexandria, and order of trigynia; and in the natural system ranging under the fifth order, Tripetaloidæ. The calyx is triphyllous; the petals are three; there is no style; the capsule opens at the base. There are three species; of which the palustre and maritimum are British.
1. Palustre, or arrow-headed grass, has an oblong trilocular capsule. The stalk is simple, eight or ten inches high; the leaves long and narrow; the flowers are greenish, and grow at the end of a long spike. It is frequent in moist ground.
2. Maritimum, or sea-spiked grass, has ovate hexocular capsules; the stalk is short; the spike long, and flowers purplish. It is frequent on the sea-coasts. Linnæus says that cattle eat these two species with avidity.