Biology
provided by Arkive
Bogbean is a perennial plant, that flowers from May to July (6). The flowers are pollinated by various insects (2).
Both the leaves and the root have a bitter taste, and were once used to treat jaundice and rheumatism. The leaves were used to flavour beer instead of hops in northern England and parts of Europe (5).
Conservation
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Conservation action is not required for this common species
Description
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Bogbean is an aquatic or bog plant, hence the common name (2). The 'bean' part of the name refers to the smooth-edged shiny leaves, which are roughly similar in appearance to those of young broad beans (4). Each leaf is divided into three leaflets, hence the specific part of the Latin name, trifoliata, meaning 'three leaves'. The leaves and flowers are typically raised above the surface of the water, arising from creeping root-like storage organs known as 'rhizomes' (2). The smooth flower stalk can grow to 30 cm. It bears numerous white delicate, feathery, and star-like flowers which have a pinkish flush on the outside of the petals (2). The alternative common name 'bog hop' arose from the use of the leaves as a flavouring in beer-making (5).
Habitat
provided by Arkive
Grows at the shallow margins of lakes, slow-flowing rivers, ponds, bogs and dune slacks. It cannot live in shade (3).
Range
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This native plant is fairly common throughout Britain, reaching altitude of 915 meters (2). It has decreased in range in parts of the south east of England, mainly as a result of the large-scale drainage of wetlands that has occurred (3). Bogbean is found throughout most of Europe but becomes rare in the Mediterranean area. It also occurs in north and central Asia, Morocco, Greenland and North America (2).
Status
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Common and widespread. Not threatened (3).
Threats
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This species is not threatened at present, however drainage of wetlands has caused a marked decrease in this species in south-east England (3).
Associations
provided by BioImages, the virtual fieldguide, UK
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / spot causer
irregularly scattered pycnidium of Ascochyta coelomycetous anamorph of Ascochyta menyanthis causes spots on dead capsule of Menyanthes trifoliata
Remarks: season: 8
Foodplant / feeds on
Bagous frit feeds on Menyanthes trifoliata
Other: sole host/prey
Foodplant / spot causer
gregarious pycnidium of Phyllosticta coelomycetous anamorph of Phyllosticta destructiva var. menyanthis causes spots on leaf of Menyanthes trifoliata
Foodplant / gall
Physoderma menyanthis causes gall of live stem of Menyanthes trifoliata
Plant / resting place / on
adult of Plateumaris affinis may be found on flower of Menyanthes trifoliata
Remarks: season: 4-7(-9)
Foodplant / spot causer
amphigenous, rufous-brown, very minute pycnidium of Septoria coelomycetous anamorph of Septoria menyanthis causes spots on fading leaf of Menyanthes trifoliata
Remarks: season: 8-9
Plant / associate
imago of Tenthredo moniliata is associated with Menyanthes trifoliata
Comments
provided by eFloras
This plant occurs on the lake borders of Kashmir valley expected to occur in our region also.
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- Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Description
provided by eFloras
Rhizomes usually in mud but sometimes floating. Petiole erect, 12-20(-30) cm; leaf blade base vaginate; leaflets elliptic, 2.5-4(-8) cm, base cuneate, margin entire or crenulate, apex obtuse, midvein distinct. Inflorescences many flowered; racemes including scape 30-35 cm; bracts 5-7 mm, margin entire, apex obtuse. Pedicel spreading, 1-1.8 cm. Calyx 4-5 mm; lobes ovate, apex obtuse. Corolla white, tubular, 1.4-1.7 cm, outside glabrous, inside long fimbriate pilose; lobes elliptic-lanceolate, 7.5-10 mm, apex obtuse. Filaments linear, 5.5-6.5 mm; anthers sagittate, 1.8-2 mm. Styles linear, short styles 6-7 mm, long styles 1-1.2 cm; stigma lobes oblong. Capsules globose, 6-7 mm in diam. Seeds orbicular, 2-2.5 mm in diam., smooth. Fl. and fr. May-Jul.
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- Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Description
provided by eFloras
Perennial, with a stout rootstock, scapes (10-) 15-30 (-40) cm long. Petiole 7-20 cm long, usually sheathing at base, covering the stem, leaflets subsessile, 3-8 cm x 2-3 cm elliptic oblong-ovate, margin entire or slightly dentate, apex acute. Raceme 2.5-15 cm long on 7-16 cm long peduncle. Pedicel 7-20 mm long, the lowest usually longer. Calyx 4-5 mm long, lobes somewhat obtuse, corolla white-pale pink, 8-12 (-14) mm long, lobes acute. Style c. 6 mm long, selender. Capsule 6-8 mm long, pointed. Seeds numerous, 2-3 mm long, lens shaped, yellow.
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- Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Distribution
provided by eFloras
Guizhou, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan, NE Zhejiang [Japan, Kashmir, Mongolia, Nepal, Russia; N Africa, N America, C and SW Asia, Europe].
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- Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Distribution
provided by eFloras
Distribution: Same as that of the genus.
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Distribution
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Temperate N. Hemisphere.
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- Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Elevation Range
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2900 m
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- Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
Habitat
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Swamps, growing in mud and in open water; 400-3600 m.
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Menyanthes
provided by wikipedia EN
A bog-bean dominated habitat in Ayrshire, Scotland
Menyanthes is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae containing the single species Menyanthes trifoliata. The North American form is often referred to as M. trifoliata var. minor Michx. It is known in English by the common names bogbean[1] and buckbean.
Description
Menyanthes trifoliata has a horizontal rhizome with alternate, trifoliate leaves. The inflorescence is an erect raceme of white flowers.
The species occurs in fens and bogs in Asia, Europe, and North America. In eastern North America, it is considered to be a diagnostic fen species.[2] It sometimes creates big quagmires with its thick roots.
Taxonomy
The name Menyanthes comes from the Greek words menyein, meaning "disclosing", and anthos, meaning "flower", in reference to the sequential opening of flowers on the inflorescence.
Fossil record
One fossil seed of Menyanthes trifoliata has been extracted from borehole samples of the Middle Miocene fresh water deposits in Nowy Sacz Basin, West Carpathians, Poland.[3]
Conservation
The species is protected in the United States.[4]
Uses
The rootstock can be ground into an unpalatable flour for emergency use.[4] The plant has a characteristic strong and bitter taste, which can be used in schnapps.
In China, the plant is known as "Sleeping herbs 睡菜" or "Herbs that calm consciousness 暝菜": Guangdong Xing Yu (1678), a Qing dynasty book by Chiu-Da-Jun, records: "Eat [Menyanthes trifoliata;] makes people sleep well." The Compendium of Materia Medica records: "[Treats] insomnia, restlessness".
References
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Menyanthes: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
A bog-bean dominated habitat in Ayrshire, Scotland
Menyanthes is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae containing the single species Menyanthes trifoliata. The North American form is often referred to as M. trifoliata var. minor Michx. It is known in English by the common names bogbean and buckbean.
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A bog-bean dominated habitat in Ayrshire, Scotland 
