NAT. ORDER. 



Verticillatcs. 



MENTHA VIRIDIS. SPEAR MINT. 



Class XIV. DiDYNAMiA. Order I. Gymnospermia. 



Gen. Char. Corolla almost equal, four-cleft; the broader segment 

 emargiuate. Stamina upright, distant. 



Spe. Char. SpeA'cs cylindrical. i(?atr5 oblong, acute, serrate, hairy, 

 subsessile. Stein strisrose. Stajncns lonojer than the corolla. 



The root is perennial, creeping, and sends forth numerous small 

 fibres ; the stems are square, hollow, erect, branched, and rise about 

 two feet in height; the leaves are large, eliptical, serrated, pointed, 

 of a bright green color, and placed in pairs close to the stem, or 

 on short footstalks; the Jlowers are small, of a light purple or pink 

 color, and produced in terminal spikes ; the fdainents are larger 

 than the corolla. It flowers in August. 



This plant is a native of North America, and can be found 

 growing on the banks of rivers and small streams, in most of the 

 Northern and Middle States. It is also found growing in many 

 ' parts of Europe, and in England is cultivated for culinary uses. 

 Many virtues were ascribed to mint by the ancients, but what spe- 

 cies they referred to must ever remain uncertain ; even at this time 

 the different species of this numerous family are not satisfactoiily 

 ascertained ; but in a medical sense, this is of little importance, as 

 the virtues of all reside in the aromatic flavor, which is, common to 

 the whole genus. 



Oa drying, the leaves loose about three-fourths of their weight 



without suffering much loss of their odor or taste. Cold or warm 



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