Menyanthes

Menyanthes is a genus of flowering plants that belong to the family Menyanthaceae. The name Menyanthes comes from the Greek words "menyan" meaning "honey" and "anthos" meaning "flower" due to the sweet fragrance and taste of the plant's parts.

There are only two species within the genus, Menyanthes trifoliata, commonly known as bog bean or marsh trefoil, and Menyanthes procera, also known as prostrate bogbean. Menyanthes trifoliata is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, while Menyanthes procera is found in tropical Africa.

Menyanthes trifoliata is a perennial aquatic plant that grows in still water environments such as ponds, lakes, and marshes. It can reach up to 2 meters in height, with rounded or oval shaped leaves that are 8-14 centimeters long and 3-5 centimeters wide. The upper surface of the leaf is hairless, but its lower surface is covered with a fine hairs.

The plant produces small, white or pink flowers that are 5-7 centimeters in diameter, carried in the spring and early summer. These flowers have four petals and are fragrant, producing nectar that attracts pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. They are followed by fruiting structures called capsule, 2-3 centimeters in diameter, containing up to 60 small brown seeds.

Menyanthes trifoliata is considered an edible plant, although its rhizomes and leaves taste unpleasant. In other cultures, the plant has been used for various purposes, such as in medicine, and as an ornamental plant in gardens and parks.