Menyanthes trifoliata L.

Glabrous herb with stout rhizome. Petiole to c. 40 cm long in water, 5–10 cm long in drier situations; sheaths purplish. Leaflets subsessile, 5–13 × 2.5–9 cm, obovate or elliptic-obovate (lateral leaflets somewhat asymmetric); base cuneate; apex rounded or obtuse. Scape c. 20–25 cm long, 10–20-flowered. Pedicels > calyx. Calyx lobed nearly to base, c. 4 mm long; lobes narrow-triangular, obtuse. Corolla 12–14 mm long, white with pinkish flush on reverse; lobes > tube, lanceolate, reflexed, with fimbriate crest 1–3 mm long. Style 10–12 mm long; stigmatic lobes broad, appressed. Ovules 15–25. Capsule ovoid. Seed not seen in N.Z., flattened and disc-like.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Nov.–Apr.