<< Previous Next >>

Bogbean


Bogbean
Photo Information
Copyright: Gert Paassen (Gert-Paassen) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 389 W: 0 N: 1564] (5137)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-05-17
Categories: Flowers
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-06-19 21:25
Viewed: 370
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [Dutch]
Today a marsflower and also on the Red list of the Netherlands and Belgium this specie are protected.
For myself one of te most beautiful flowers of the Netherlands.

Latin name - Menyanthes trifoliata

Habitat
The Buckbean, or Bogbean, grows in spongy bogs, marshes and shallow water throughout Europe, being rather scarce in the south of England, though common in the north and in Scotland.

Description
It is a green, glabrous plant, with creeping rootstock and procumbent stem, varying in length according to situation, covered by the sheaths of the leaves, which are on long, fleshy, striated petioles and three-partite, the leaflets being entire and about 2 inches long and 1 broad. It blossoms from May to July, the flowers being borne on long stalks, 6 to 18 inches high, longer than the leaves and clustered together in a thick short spike, rendering them very conspicuous. The corollas, 3/4 inch across, are outwardly rose-coloured and inwardly white and hairy, with reddish stamens. The Buckbean is one of the prettiest of our wild flowers deserving of cultivation in the garden, where it grows and thrives well, if planted in peat with water constantly round the roots.

History
The plant was held to be of great value as a remedy against the once-dreaded scurvy. Scharbock, its German name, is a corruption of the Latin scorbutus, the old medical name for the disease.

'Bean' is probably an affix from the resemblance of the foliage to that of the beans grown in cottage gardens. Gerard says that the leaves are 'like to those of the garden beane.'

Its specific name, trifoliata, carries the same reference to the form of its leaves.

The generic name, Menyanthes, is from two Greek words signifying month and flower. It was a name bestowed by Linnaeus, and it has been suggested that the plant was so called because it remains in flower for a month; but it is actually often in bloom during May, June and July!

One of the older writers describes its inflorescence as a 'bush of feather-like floures of a white colour, dasht ouer slightly with a wash of light carnation.'

Buckbean has a reputation for preserving sheep from rot, but it is doubtful whether they really touch it, on account of its extreme bitterness.

Constituents
The chief constituents are a small quantity of volatile oil and a bitter principle, a glucoside called Menyanthin. The bitterness is imparted to both alcohol and water.

Medicinal Action and Uses
Tonic, cathartic, deobstruent and febrifuge. An extract is made from the leaves, which possesses strong tonic properties, and which renders great service in rheumatism, scurvy, and skin diseases. An infusion of 1 OZ. of the dried leaves to 1 pint of boiling water is taken in wineglassful doses, frequently repeated. It has also been recommended as an external application for dissolving glandular swellings. Finely powdered Buckbean leaves have been employed as a remedy for ague, being said to effect a cure when other means fail. In large doses, the powder is also purgative. It is used also as a herb tobacco.

The juice of the fresh leaves has proved efficacious in dropsical cases, and mixed with whey has been known to cure gout.

Menyanthes is a monotypic genus of flowering plant in the family Menyanthaceae. 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.

Menyanthes trifoliata is characterized by a horizontal rhizome with alternate, trifoliate leaves. The inflorescence is an erect raceme of white flowers.

Menyanthes trifoliata occurs in bogs and marshes in Asia, Europe, and North America. The North American form is often referred to as M. trifoliata var. minor Michx. It is known in English by the common names bog-bean and buckbean, and in German as Bitterklee or Fieberklee
Heaven, Art_R, Jamesp, boreocypriensis, nirmalroberts, zulfu, haraprasan, mariki, jaycee, Alex99, nglen, Ishi has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Heaven Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 458 W: 84 N: 864] (3233)
  • [2008-06-19 21:44]

Hi Gert!

This beauty is really worth to be protected! You present us a delightful and delicate picture of this magnificient flower. The lighting is superb, although it certainly wasn't easy not to burn the whites. The blurred background highlights the flower very well. The picture is well accompanied by interesting and instructive notes.

Kind regards

Markus

Nog nooit gezien in Belgie, Gert.
Ik kom dan ook niet veel buiten;-). Huntelaar op TV...:-)
Leuke compo.
Goed gedaan
Annick

  • Great 
  • Art_R Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 199 W: 16 N: 476] (1967)
  • [2008-06-19 22:20]

Hi Gert , very lovely delicate flower , very well portrayed , the angle offered on each flower serves to describe it perfectly , well chosen POV.

the exposure , focus , detail , and depth of field are also very good. I also like the very natural colors to

thanks for sharing this.
regards
Art

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4834] (14354)
  • [2008-06-19 22:34]

Hi Gert

What a lovely flower. Well captured - great detail and isolation here, plus very sharp focus.

TFS

James

great close up! I saw this plant in Holland some 8 years ago. greetings Ori

Hi Gert,
Very interesting and useful plant. Beautiful flower. Excellent picture.
TFS.
- Nirmal

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2459 W: 168 N: 7421] (23442)
  • [2008-06-19 23:50]

Hello Gert,
What a splendid capture of the Bog Bean and its beautiful and fascinating flowers. Very fine details and beautiful colours against a very attractive smooth background. (I must check if this is protected in Sweden too!)
Well done!
TFS and have a nice weekend, Ulla

Good Mornin Gert,
Wonderful shot of an another beautiful flower on red list with lovely details. I have not seen before of this marsflower my friend. TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 527 W: 0 N: 95] (583)
  • [2008-06-20 0:44]

Hello Gert, wonderful close up! TFS. Regards,
Mehmet

HI Gert,
lovely image of this well protected species.
It look very delicate and you got two flowers with different face to show, which I liked. There I can see an insect in the buds very busy having its soup. TFS.
nagraj.v

Hi Gert,
A lovely capture of this beautiful flowers. Excellent composition and sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Gert,

An excellent capture of this wonderful flower. Excellent composition and focus. Very good exposure. Splendid colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

Hallo Gert,
Erg mooie foto in schitterende kleuren. De donkere achtergrond versterkt het wit van de bloemen extra. Goede scherpte en diepte in de foto. Mooie compositie.
Groet,
Peter

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1778 W: 8 N: 4605] (14893)
  • [2008-06-20 8:38]

Hi Gert,

They get more beautiful every day! This is so unusual looking that it almost looks artificial. You managed the white of this delicate flower so perfectly. Beautiful colors, fine details, and a superb composition.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3030 W: 148 N: 4521] (14603)
  • [2008-06-20 9:49]

Hi Gert.
You managed to reflect the all beauty of the flowers amazingly. Terrific details and colour reproduction. I like your selection of the DOF. Flowers are in focus at whole and BG is nicely blurred. Lights are so fine as colours. Composition is spot ton too. Well done and TFS.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1989 W: 5 N: 5528] (20896)
  • [2008-06-20 11:21]

Hi Gert. I can see why you like this one its so beautiful and delicate. you have captured it with fine detail and natural colours. you have done so well with the whites of the flowers. stands out so well against the BG. well done TFS. Interesting notes.
Nick.

Have a good weekend

  • Great 
  • Ishi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 103 W: 0 N: 499] (1888)
  • [2008-06-20 12:53]

Beautiful flower, Gert!

TFS,

Ishi

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF