106 AIEDICIXAL HERBS AND POISOXOUS PLANTS 



mint. The plant is often found wild in this country, 

 but as an escape from cultivation. It is recognized by 

 its oblong, smooth, lance - shaped, saw - edged leaves 

 (fig. 65). The flowers are found in clusters, very close 

 together at the top but interrupted below. 



From the fresh flowers an oil is distilled which enters 

 into the composition of peppermint -water, essence of 

 peppermint, and spirit of peppermint. To many lay 

 minds the name of peppermint is associated with noxious 

 liquids wliich for their good they are sometimes com- 

 pelled to swallow. Not only does peppermint mask the 

 taste of such fluids, but it has -a positive value as a 

 stimulant and carminative; it also prevents griping in 

 the intestinal canal. The most important constituent of 

 P'^ppermint is menthol or peppermint camphor, a solid 



alcohol with the characteristic odour and taste of the 

 oil. 



Chdtivation,—Ai^ before the War 40,000 cwt. were 

 annually imported into this country from one district 

 alone in Germany, and as the plant was formerly ex- 

 tensively grown at Mitcham, its cultivation should, at 

 the present time, be a matter of interest. The plant 

 grows in any ordinary good moist soil. It is propagated 

 by division of roots or by cuttings in autumn or early 

 spring. While the British variety is of better quality 

 than the Continental, its liigh price seems to have 

 brought about a decline in its sale. 



Spearmint (Mentha virvJis).— The special diagnostic 

 features of this plant are the following;— 



1. The leaves are stalJde.^s, oblong-lanceolate, smooth 



on upper surface, and with a few hairs and 

 glanduJar dots on the under surface: the edges 

 are serrate (see fig. 66). 



2. Each plant bears several slender spikes of flowers. 



3. The flowers are of a lilac colour. 



