Flowers of Menyanthes trifoliata
It has been a while since we’ve featured a family of primarily aquatic and wetland herbs–Menyanthaceae fits the bill! The family’s five genera consist of a total of between 60 and 70 mostly perennial species that are distributed broadly over the surface of the planet; the genera themselves are not globally distributed, however, as some (Liparophyllum, Villarsia) are native only to the southern hemisphere and others (Menyanthes, Nephrophyllidium) are native only to the earth’s northern half. The family boasts a number of common ornamentals that are characterized by creeping rhizomes and five-parted flowers that exhibit fused petals dressed either with cilia (tiny marginal hairs) or with lateral wings.
Menyanthes is a monotypic genus (consisting of a single species) first described by Linnaeus in the 18th century. That species, Menyanthes trifoliata, is a herbaceous perennial plant with long rhizomes, mostly basal leaves, and racemes capped with multiple, distylous white flowers furnished with small cilia. Menyanthes trifoliata–which is variously known as buckbean, bugbean, or marsh clover–is native to the somewhat elevated mud-, swamp-, and bog-waters of the northern temperate regions of Europe, North America, and Asia (China, Japan, Mongolia, Kashmir, Russia, Nepal).
The plant, which can be invasive in some areas, excels in moist, peaty soil, and produces its flowers from May to July. While hardy with regard to colder temperatures, it has a distinct aversion to shade. An extract from Menyanthes trifoliata–the specific name of which derives from the arrangement of the plant’s shiny, three-parted leaves–was once used as a remedy for scurvy, and today it remains a somewhat effective treatment for rheumatism, inflammation, various skin diseases, and gout (when mixed with whey). The plant’s roots are edible, once treated and cooked, and its bitter leaves are sometimes used to flavour beer.
So dainty!
So hairy!
Such a lovely plant! And very challenging to photograph – hard to get those cilia in focus.
most interesting, esp. information about edibility and medicinal uses. thx a lot.
I planted it this spring – in shade *eyesrollingupward*. Must move my little bog, it seems.
once again, a plant i never knew existed.
Buckee,Buckee biddy Bene
Is the way fair and clean?
Is the goose ygone to nest
And the fox ygone to rest
shall i come away
arklive has a fine short live video
of the above plant and a fine site
thank you the photo and write up
correction to the above arkive is the web site
makes me dream of Cascade Mountain meadows that go on forever…..
When I was younger,in Ireland, I used to make a tobacco for my friends with dried bogbean leaves often mixed with Myrica gale to give a stronger scent. I do not smoke myself, but my friends enjoyed it. Alternatively they would use the dried bogbean leaves together with normal tobacco to reduce the cost. No idea of the health risks/ benefits…but they are all still alive 40 years later and none of them have sued me yet!
We also tried to make a beer with it but it turned out horrible -totally undrinkable – we stuck with Guinness.
Ciao
Brian
Thanks, Elizabeth — what a great website, and more wonderful photos: http://www.arkive.org/bogbean/menyanthes-trifoliata/
Elizabeth… and the poem (or nursery rhyme?) — Buckee, Buckee biddy Bene — what/whose is that?
mary ann
i found the peom here
botanical.com
a modern herbal-by mrs m grieve
wrtten early 1900
this may be a childerns poem
one finds it under the flowers name
will explain bene prayful
hope this helps i can not link
Thanks, I found it — another delight!
http://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/bogbea63.html
Would it be possible to start routinely mentioning the common names in your (otherwise lovely) entries?