Bog-bean (Menyanthes trifoliata)

Bog-bean (Menyanthes trifoliata)


Description
Bog-bean or buckbean is a perennial herb, 15-30 cm tall, with a long, thick and branched rhizome in the ground. Trifoliate leaves appear at the top of rhizome, they have long petiole, with a sheath surrounding the rhizome. Flowers are pinkish white placed on along stem, calyx and corolla having 5 divisions. On their inner side, the petals present numerous whitish hairs. The stamens have red-purple anthers. It blooms in May-June. It grows in humid areas, marshes, meadows in mountain and plain regions.


Harvest
Leaves are harvested from the bog-bean plant, with or without petiole, during blooming. Avoid pulling leaves, because rhizomes come out easily from the earth, which may destroy the plants.


Drying Mode
The leaves dry more quickly after harvest. Drying is done in ventilated places. Artificially they can be dried at a temperature of 60-70 degrees C. From 5-6 kg of fresh leaves you can get 1 kg of dried product.


Uses
Because of a bitter principle, bog-bean tea has the ability to increase appetite.




Source: www.sanatateverde.blogspot.com