Buckbean

Description

Menyanthes trifoliata is a species of Magnoliopsida described by Carl von Linné. Menyanthes trifoliata belongs to the genus Menyanthes, and the family Menyanthaceae. Menyanthes is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae containing the single species Menyanthes trifoliata. 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. 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. Menyanthes trifoliata has a horizontal rhizome with alternate, trifoliate leaves. The inflorescence is an erect raceme of white flowers. Menyanthes trifoliata occurs in fens and bogs in Asia, Europe, and North America. In eastern North America, it is considered to be a diagnostic fen species. It sometimes creates big quagmires with its thick roots. It has a characteristic strong and bitter taste, which can be used in schnapps. Menyanthes trifoliata are also known as "Sleeping herbs" or "Herbs that calm consciousness" in Chinese, In 1678, in the Qing Dynasty, a book written by Chiu-Da-Jun: "Guangdong Xing Yu" has been recorded: "Eat Menyanthes trifoliata makes people sleep well." Compendium of Materia Medica has been recorded: " Treating insomnia, restlessness" 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. Menyanthes is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Menyanthaceae containing the single species Menyanthes trifoliata. 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. 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. Menyanthes trifoliata has a horizontal rhizome with alternate, trifoliate leaves. The inflorescence is an erect raceme of white flowers. Menyanthes trifoliata occurs in fens and bogs in Asia, Europe, and North America. In eastern North America, it is considered to be a diagnostic fen species. It sometimes creates big quagmires with its thick roots. It has a characteristic strong and bitter taste, which can be used in schnapps.