Marsh herbs with rush-like leaves and small spicate or racemose perfect flowers. Perianth 4-6-parted, its segments in two series, persistent or deciduous. Stamens 3-6. Filament's very short or elongated. Anthers mostly 2-celled and extrorse. Carpels 3-6, 1-2-ovuled, more or less united until maturity, dehiscent or indehiscent. Seeds anatropous. Embryo straight.

Four genera and about 10 species of wide geographic distribution.

Leaves all basal; flowers numerous on naked scapes, spicate or racemed.

1.

Triglochin.

Stem leafy; flowers few in a loose raceme.

2.

Scheuchseria.