LABIATAE MINT FAMILY 
NARROW-LEAVED MOUNTAIN MINT 
Pycnanthemum flexuosum (Walt.) BSP. 
The Mountain Mints are not so conspicuous as some other 
members of the family but they are common, often abundant and 
have the characteristic Mint flavor and odor. The Narrow-leaved 
Mountain Mint, though much 
less fragrant than others, is the 
commonest species in most 
parts of the state and frequently 
covers considerable areas on 
dry hills, fields or in thickets 
that are not too shady. It 
grows from Maine to Florida, 
west to Minnesota, Kansas and 
Texas. 
The square, slender, freely 
branching stems, 18-30 inches 
high, are rather stiff and nearly 
smooth throughout. The 
smooth firm leaves are narrow 
and sessile, the lowermost, 
sometimes on short petioles, 
excepted. 
The blooming season is July 
to September. The dense flower 
clusters are terminal and whit- 
ish from the numerous white 
hairs that cover calyx and 
bracts. The calyx is nearly equally 5-toothed. The whitish corolla 
has 2 purple-dotted lips, of which the upper is merely notched 
and the lower 3-cleft. The 4 stamens are arranged in pairs usually 
of unequal length. The ovary is deeply 4-parted and the style 
slender. The fruit consists of 4 seedlike nutlets. 
The Virginia Mountain Mint, Pycnanthemum virginianum (L.) 
Durand & Jackson, is about equally common but more likely to 
be found on rather moist prairies. The numerous leaves are lanceo- 
late rather than linear but otherwise this is quite similar to the 
narrow-leaved species. It ranges from Maine to Georgia, west to the 
Dakotas, blooming from July to September. 
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