Practical
Plants

Menyanthes trifoliata

Bogbean

a perennial member of the Menyanthes genus in the family Menyanthaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.25 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Bees, Lepidoptera
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Lepidoptera

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Root - cooked[11][21]. It must be treated to get rid of an acrid taste[1][6]. This can be done by drying the root, grinding it into a powder and then washing it in running water[11]. Unfortunately, this treatment will also get rid of many of the vitamins and minerals contained in the root[K]. The powder can be used for making 'missen bread' (famine bread)[9]. The root is an emergency food that is used when all else fails[8]. The intensely bitter leaves are used as a substitute for hops in making beer[11][22][2][3][9].

Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Bogbean is closely related to the gentians, which are famous bitter herbs used as a digestive and general body tonic[17]. This plant can be used similarly, but it can irritate the digestive system of patients with gastric inflammation or infection[17]. The plant is anti-inflammatory, astringent, carminative, cathartic, deobstruent, digestive, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, hypnotic, stomachic, tonic[20][22][23][2][14][4][6][7][13][16][17]. All parts of the plant are medically active, but the leaves are the part most commonly used[20][15]. The leaves are best harvested in late spring or early summer and dried before use[23][16], the fresh plant causes vomiting[16]. An infusion is given in the treatment of muscular weakness in M.E., chronic infections with debility and exhaustion, indigestion, anorexia and rheumatism[17]. Given in small doses of about 10 grains it imparts vigour to the stomach and aids digestion[13][16]. Using the plant helps a person to gain weight[19]. It s also believed to be an effective remedy for rheumatoid arthritis, especially when this condition is associated with weakness, weight loss and lack of vitality[19]. Bogbean is usually prescribed in combination with other herbs such as celery seed (Apium graveolens) and white willow (Salix alba)[19]. This plant should not be prescribed for patients with diarrhoea, dysentery or colitis[17]. Excess doses cause vomiting[17].

Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Carminative
Product or use
Cathartic
Product or use
Deobstruent
Product or use
Digestive
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Hypnotic
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain, N. and C. Asia, Morocco.
Habitat
Shallow water on the edges of ponds and in marshy ground, usually in acid soils[22][5][18].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
aquatic
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Do not allow the seed to dry out. Sow late winter to early spring in a pot in a cold frame and keep the pot just submerged in water. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in trays of water in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring. Very easy, the divisions can be planted straight out into their permanent positions if required. However, particularly with smaller divisions, we find it better to pot them up and grow them on in a cold frame for a few weeks until they are established. Cuttings taken in summer can be inserted into the mud at the side of the pond and will normally root well.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Grow in a bog garden in wet peaty soil or in shallow water at the edge of a pond[10]. Prefers acid conditions[17]. Succeeds in water up to 30cm deep[18]. Dislikes shade. Plants can be very invasive, spreading by means of long-creeping thick surface rhizomes[10]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25°c[10]. Cats are very fond of this plant[7].

References

  1. Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.

    ↩

  2. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  3. Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1976-00-00

    ↩

  4. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  6. Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.

    ↩1↩2

  7. Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.

    ↩1↩2

  8. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  10. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2↩3

  12. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

  13. Coffey. T. The History and Folklore of North American Wild Flowers. Facts on File. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-8160-2624-6

    ↩1↩2

  14. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  15. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩

  16. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  17. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  18. Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.

    ↩1↩2

  19. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

  20. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  21. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00

    ↩

  22. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  23. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

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