WETLANDS are a habitat type in short supply, unfortunately. They have traditionally been seen, in some quarters at least, as not that useful. They’re just a bit clarty, possibly a bit smelly as well, and fit only for draining and turning into agricultural land.

Despite this, wetlands are actually incredibly valuable from a biodiversity perspective and provide a home to some fascinating plants, animals and fungi. Some of these, including birds like reed bunting and sedge warbler, have been able to exploit drier habitats. As a result, although they’ve suffered from the loss of wetlands, they’ve been able to adapt to some extent. Other species are much more dependent on wet conditions and so are very vulnerable to habitat loss.

Bogbean is one of these and is a species which, frankly, deserves a more attractive name. Growing in wet ditches, bogs, swamps and around the edges of ponds and lakes, it’s a plant which can be difficult to locate, but once found, it may be present in large numbers.

Sometimes the dense root systems of the plant can trap large amounts of sediment, leading to the formation of extensive muddy mires. Sadly, it is relatively rare in East Lothian these days, being present at only a few sites. It is worth looking out for around some of the inland lochs and at one or two wetland sites near the coast.

Bogbean gets its name, or at least the bean part, from the fact that the leaves resemble those of broad beans. They are trifoliate, that is they have three separate leaflets and actually look like a large fleshy clover. This is reflected in the scientific name, Menyanthes trifoliata. The genus name is derived from Greek words meaning ‘disclosing’ and ‘flower’ and is related to the sequential opening of the flowers, starting with the lowest.

It is these flowers that are bogbean’s crowning glory. Appearing as delicate, feathery, five-petalled white stars, the flowers can create a superb display. Various bees and butterflies act as pollinators, although beetles and flies are also attracted by the flower’s rather unpleasant smell.

As the summer progresses, the flowers will change into shiny green seed pods. Beyond its value for pollinators, bogbean’s broad leaves also provide sites for dragonflies to lay their eggs.

In the past, bogbean was used by herbalists to treat a number of ailments, including arthritis and asthma. It was also widely known as a calmative and cure for insomnia – in China, the plant has been called the ‘sleeping herbs’. The leaves, although bitter in taste, were used to flavour beer, leading to the plant being known as bog hop in some areas. In addition, the plant can also be used as a flavouring for schnapps.

Bogbean is just one of the wonderful species inhabiting wetlands in Scotland.

Whilst some of the others may lack the beauty of bogbean, they’re all an integral part of this all-too-rare habitat. That even includes pillwort and rigid hornwort – if bogbean teaches us anything, it’s not to judge a plant by its name.