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Inflorescence a raceme, terminal, 10-30 cm long; flowers radially symmetric, subtended by a bract; sepals 5, fused, 3-5mm long; petals 5-6, fused into funnel-shape, 5-7 mm, white, purple-tinged, scaly-haired on inner surface; stamens 5, red; pistils 1, stigma 2-lobed, green, ovary superior, triangular

Similar species: Vicia faba M. trifoliata is sometimes confused with Vicia faba because both have similar leaves. This is likely where the ‘bean’ portion of M. trifoliata’s common name was derived from (Johnson et al. 2005). It differs from other genus’s within the Menyanthaceae in that is the only genus with trifoliate leaves (Heywood, 1978). Ethnobotanical uses: The roots of M. trifoliata have been used in Europe as an alternative to hops for making beer (Johnson et al. 2005). They have also been crushed into powder then mixed into flour and have sometimes been boiled with honey to make mead (Johnson et al. 2005). Although, M. trifoliata has been used in foods, when eaten fresh, it has been known to cause diarrhea and vomiting and it is very bitter (Royer and Dickinson, 2007). This bitter taste is a result of a compound called menyanthin (a glucoside) which can be used in medicine to treat fevers (Heywood, 1978).

Alberta: Throughout the boreal forests of Alberta but are generally not found in the southeast corner of the province (Moss, 1994). Outside Alberta: CAN (BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, NU, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT); USA (AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, IA, ID, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, SD, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY); DEN (GL); FRA(SPM)