# Bogbean (*Menyanthes trifoliata*) Bogbean is a beautiful plant that grows in wet places like marshes. It has lovely white flowers that look like little stars and big, green leaves that float on the water. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Bogbean](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Menyanthes_trifoliata_-_Jardin_Botanique_Henri_GAUSSEN.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Menyanthes_trifoliata_-_Jardin_Botanique_Henri_GAUSSEN.jpg) ## Appearance The Bogbean has erect stems with unique three-lobed, clover-like leaves that appear to float on or emerge from the water. Its beautiful star-shaped flowers are white or pale pink, fringed with delicate white hairs, clustered on a tall stalk. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Menyanthaceae - **Genus:** Menyanthes ## Interesting facts - Bogbean can help clean boggy water by absorbing extra nutrients, keeping its home healthy! - Its scientific name 'trifoliata' means 'three-leaved' – just like its distinctive leaves! - Some traditional healers once used Bogbean leaves to treat fevers and stomach upset! - This plant is sometimes called 'Buckbean' because deer used to enjoy munching on its leaves! ## Special abilities - **Water Wings:** Bogbean can float on water because its stems are spongy and air-filled, helping it thrive in boggy wetlands and access sunlight. - **Fuzzy Flowers:** Bogbean has delicate fringed flowers that attract insects by creating a soft landing pad, making pollination easier. - **Rhizome Runner:** Bogbean has creeping rhizomes that allow it to spread rapidly underwater, helping it colonize new areas and form dense mats. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-40 cm - **Spread:** 20-50 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to Early Summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Its fuzzy body helps transfer pollen between flowers. - **Pollinates:** Western honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits the fringed flowers to collect nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** Mallard duck (*Anas platyrhynchos*) — Ducks may feed on its seeds and young shoots. - **Shelter:** Common frog (*Rana temporaria*) — Frogs use dense growth for hiding and hunting. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Bogbean? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Bogbean? 15-40 cm ### How wide does Bogbean spread? 20-50 cm ### How big are the flowers on Bogbean? 1-2 cm ### When does Bogbean bloom? Spring to Early Summer ### Is Bogbean edible? Yes ### Is Bogbean toxic? Mild ### What is Bogbean's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Canaan Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canaan-street-historic-district) — New Hampshire, US · Historic District - [Douglas State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/douglas-state-forest) — Massachusetts, US · Forest - [Grandma Lake Wetlands State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grandma-lake-wetlands-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park - [Kelly's Camp Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kellys-camp-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Kents Corner Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kents-corner-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Kijik](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kijik) — Alaska, US · Neighborhood [View all places to see Bogbean](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bogbean) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Bogbean: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bogbean)