Menyanthes trifoliata – Bog Bean – 3-Quart

The trilobate foliage of this plant is vaguely pea-like and it inhabits bogs, poor to rich fens, rich swamps, and cool springy forests, often in inundated soils and sometimes at the edge of ponds or streams – hence the name Bogbean. When the wonderfully intricate flowers appear however, there is no doubt – this is not a member of the pea/bean family (Fabaceae). Instead it shares a family (Menyanthaceae) with a non-native plant often sold as an ornamental aquatic for ponds, Water Snowflake (Nymphoides indica) – the two have very similar-looking flowers and perhaps a better name for Bogbean could be Bog Snowflake. Native throughout most of New York State including Ulster County. This plant loves to be rooted in boggy ground from which it will trail outward into open water, though it’s incapable of completely covering a large, open expanse of water.