Montane, subalpine. Ponds. Summer.
Grindstone Lake, August 25, 2007.

Menyanthes trifoliata makes neat little islands of vertical leaves.  It sprouts from stout, under-water rhizomes and produces masses of leaves in threes, each leaf about five inches long.  Clusters of lovely five-petaled, white, fringed flowers with purple hairs appear in early summer and are on stalks just above the leaves. (Click to see flower images.)

Linnaeus named this species in 1753 from specimens collected in Europe.  The plant is circumboreal, and in the Northern Hemisphere it is found across Canada and in all western and northern United States.

Montane, subalpine. Ponds. Summer.
Grindstone Lake, August 25, 2007.

Looking down through the surface of Grindstone Lake, we can see stems emerging from roots at the bottom of the pond.

Montane, subalpine. Ponds. Summer.
Grindstone Lake, August 25, 2007.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Menyanthes trifoliate