bogbean

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bog buckbean
• bogbean
• buckbean
• common bogbean
• bog-bean
• bog-myrtle
• marsh trefoil
• marsh-clover
• water trefoil

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Menyanthes americana
• Menyanthes verna
• Menyanthes tridentata
• Menyanthes trifolium
• Menyanthes trifoliata f. microphylla
• Menyanthes trifoliata subsp. verna
• Menyanthes trifoliata var. minor
• Menyanthes trifoliata var. paradoxa
• Menyanthes trifoliata f. macrophylla
• Menyanthes paradoxa
• Menyanthes palustris
• Menyanthes latifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, it is positioned within the family Menyanthaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Menyanthes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the northern regions of Europe. It can be found growing across various territories, including Denmark and Finland. The species is also documented in the coastal areas of the Faroe Islands. Furthermore, its presence extends to the islands of Iceland and the landscape of Great Britain. Together, these locations define the northern range of this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Menyanthe trifoliata is characterized by its preference for specific hydric environments, primarily thriving in habitats such as lakes and swamps. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, occupying a diverse vertical range within its ecosystem. It can be found at low elevations starting from 450 m AMSL, climbing through various montane zones to reach a maximum elevation of 3600 m AMSL. The mean elevation for this plant across its documented range is approximately 2412.5 m AMSL, reflecting its ability to adapt to varying atmospheric pressures and temperature gradients associated with high-altitude wetland systems.

Elevational range max:

3600 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2412.5 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

450 m AMSL

Habitat :

lakes, swamps

Genetics

The genetics of Menyanthes trifoliata are characterized by specific chromosomal configurations that define its reproductive and evolutionary biology. Regarding its fundamental genetic composition, the plant exhibits a baseline haploid number represented by the ploidy level $n$, which serves as the foundation for its genomic structure and meiotic processes. This chromosomal state is critical for understanding the inheritance patterns and the genetic stability of the species within its natural habitat. The study of its ploidy levels provides essential insights into the potential for polyploidization events, which can drive speciation and adaptational shifts in medicinal flora.

Ploidy :

n

Life history

The life history of Menyanthe trifolia is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It exhibits a complex life form, functioning as both a helophyte and a cryptophyte, which suggests an ability to thrive in wetland environments while maintaining protective structures near or below the soil surface. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage consistently rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

helophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Menyanthe trifoliata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This plant is primarily terrestrial in its epiphytic status and functions as an independent organism, lacking parasitic tendencies. It exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit rather than acting as a vine or liana. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing species with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.35 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.209 m. Furthermore, the species displays an aquatic nature, existing within aquatic, semiaquatic, or terrestrial habitats.

Aquatic :

aquatic

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.35 m

Plant height mean:

0.209 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Menyanthe trifoliata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a standard carbon fixation process typical of many non-specialized terrestrial plants. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than supplemental nutrient acquisition through insectivory, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer. The plant's foliar morphology exhibits specific structural dimensions, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 4 cm, resulting in a mean leaf length of 3.25 cm. The leaf width varies between 1.2 cm and 2 cm, yielding a mean width of 1.6 cm and contributing to a mean leaf size of approximately 44.25 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 236.77 cm²/g, reflecting the relationship between its leaf area and its dry mass density.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

4 cm

Leaf length mean:

3.25 cm

Leaf length min:

2.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

44.25167 cm²

Leaf width max:

2 cm

Leaf width mean:

1.6 cm

Leaf width min:

1.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

236.77 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Menyanthe trifolia is characterized by a bisexual sexual reproductive system, with asexual reproduction being notably absent. The flowering period typically commences in May and concludes in August. This process relies on biotic pollination, specifically utilizing an insect pollination syndrome with bees serving as primary pollinators. Once fertilization occurs, the plant produces fruit in the form of a capsule, which is a dehiscent type. The fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 0.325 cm, a minimum length of 0.6 cm, and a maximum length reaching up to 0.7 cm; however, the mean fruit width is recorded at 0 cm. The resulting seeds are extremely minute, with mean measurements for seed length and width both being 0 mm. In terms of mass, the seeds range from a minimum of 0.001829 g to a maximum of 0.0033 g, with an overall mean seed mass of approximately 0.004132 g. Dispersal of the seeds is facilitated through both hydrochorous (water) and anemochorous (wind) syndromes. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, necessitating cross-pollination for successful reproduction.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.325 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width mean:

0 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

0 mm

Seed mass max:

0.0033 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00413226666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.001829 g

Seed width mean:

0 mm

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Menyanthes trifoliata has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

Chemicals

Menyanthes trifoliata has 60 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Betulin, Braylin, CERYL ALCOHOL, CHLOROGENIC ACID, CU.

Betulin

1. Dr. Duke

Braylin

1. Dr. Duke

CERYL ALCOHOL

1. Dr. Duke

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke

CU

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

Deoxyloganin

1. Dr. Duke

EO

1. Dr. Duke

FE

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

Folacin

1. Dr. Duke

Foliamenthin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Menyanthes trifoliata has 500 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ATPase-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Additive

1. Dr. Duke

Alcohol-Dehydrogenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Menyanthes trifoliata has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Insomnia, inflammation, oxidative stress, tumor.

Insomnia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Inflammation

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

Oxidative stress

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine

Tumor

1. Journal of biomolecular screening

Preparations

Menyanthes trifoliata has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Ethanolic leaf extracts.

Ethanolic leaf extracts

1. Biometals : an international journal on the role of metal ions in biology, biochemistry, and medicine