The Triglochin bulbosa complex (Juncaginaceae) from the Mediterranean region and Africa is revised. One new species, Triglochin buchenaui Köcke, Mering & Kadereit, and two new subspecies, Triglochin bulbosa subsp. calcicola Mering, Köcke & Kadereit and Triglochin bulbosa subsp. quarcicola Mering, Köcke & Kadereit, are described from South Africa. The only two Mediterranean taxa in the complex (Triglochin barrelieri, T. laxiflora) are elevated to species rank. Altogether seven species and four subspecies are recognised: Triglochin barrelieri, T. buchenaui, T. bulbosa subsp. bulbosa, T. bulbosa subsp. calcicola, T. bulbosa subsp. quarcicola, T. bulbosa subsp. tenuifolia, T. compacta, T. elongata, T. laxiflora and T. milnei. An identification key, detailed descriptions and accounts of the ecology and distribution of the taxa are provided. An IUCN conservation status is proposed for each taxon.

Seed salinity tolerance and dormancy play important roles in germination behaviour. The effects of NaCl concentration and different dormancy-breaking treatments on germination were determined for six species growing on the coasts of the Baltic Sea or the Gulf of Riga: Juncus balticus, Triglochin maritima, Triglochin palustre, Anthyllis maritima, Linaria vulgaris and Linaria loeselii. Germination percentages were significantly reduced at NaCl concentrations >100 mM. Germination of J. balticus, T. maritima and T. palustre, but not that of A. maritima and L. vulgaris, recovered after seeds were rinsed with distilled water. Seeds of J. balticus were non-dormant; those of A. maritima had physical dormancy; and those of T. palustre, T. maritima, L. loeselii and L. vulgaris had non-deep to intermediate physiological dormancy, which was broken by cold stratification or gibberellic acid. The seeds of plants growing in habitats periodically exposed to sea water (coastal meadows) were characterized by greater salinity tolerance than seeds of plants growing in habitats less exposed to sea water (dunes).