MINT FAMILY 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: swamps. 



THE PLANT: erect, six inches to two feet tall or sometimes 

 taller; the stem slender, four-angled, and generally smooth. 



THE LEAVES: opposite; light green; ovate-lanceolate; 

 rather abruptly acuminate at both ends; sharply toothed. 



THE FLOWERS: small, in whorls around the stem at the 

 base of the leaves; the corolla tubular; the stamens mostly 

 shorter than the petals. 



THE FRUIT: nutlets. 



A very variable plant, and, consequently, one interest- 

 ing to the botanist. It used to be highly prized by the 

 Nantucket herbalists, too, who used it for a cold remedy. 

 The sharply toothed leaves grow opposite to each other 

 and the small, bugle-shaped flowers are in a whorl around 

 the stem. 



LABIATE MINT FAMILY 



Mentha arvensis, var. canadensis (L)., Briquet. 



White or lilac-white Field Mint, 



Corn Mint, 



July-September Lamb's Tongue, 



Wild Pennyroyal. 



Mentha: Greek name of a nymph who is fabled to have 



been changed into mint by Proserpine. 

 Arvensis: Latin, meaning growing in a field 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: low grounds. 



THE PLANT: erect, six inches to two feet high; the stem 

 freely branched, especially below, slender, somewhat col- 

 oured at the base. 



THE LEAVES: opposite; oblong-lanceolate, tending to 

 ovate; all about the same size, sometimes two inches long; 



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