LABIATJE. XXVI. MENTHA. 



717 



exc. p. 310. M. gratissima, Wigg. prim. fl. hols. 43. ex Roth, 

 tent. fl. germ. 2. pt. 2. p. (3. M. sapida, Tausch. ? ex Rchb. fl. 

 germ. exc. p. 310. M. Halleri, Grael. fl. bad. 2. p. 594. ? ex 

 Rchb fl. germ. exc. p. 310. M. sylvestris, nemorosa, Rchb. 

 icoD. bot. 10. p. 28. t. 984. 



I'ar. , urtica-fblia ; stem divaricately branched ; spikes 

 slender, interrupted; whorls few-flowered, distinct. 3/. H. 

 Native of Naples. M. urticaefolia, Tenor, fl. nap. t. 157. syll. 

 p. 283. ? M. origanoides, Tenor, fl. nap. prod. app. 5. p. 19. 

 syll. p. 284. 



I'ar. TI, crispa (Benth. lab. p. 172.) leaves undulately curled, 

 profoundly toothed, rather rugose, clothed with white tomentum 

 beneath, y.. H. Native of many parts of Europe, and in 

 gardens. M. undulata, Willd. enum. p. 608. Nees. pi. med. 

 with a figure. M. velutina, Lejeune. M. dulcissima, Dumort 

 fiorul. belg. p. 48. ? M. crispa, Tenore, fl. nap. 2. p. 29. 

 Rivin. mon. t. 50. M. serotina, Tenore, syll. p. 281.? M. 

 foliosa, Opiz, ex Fresen. syll. pi. soc. ratisb. 2. p. 226. M. to- 

 mentosa, Hoppe, et Hornsch. ex Rchb. fl. germ. exc. p. 310. 

 M. Lamarkii, Tenore, fl. nep. prod, append. 5. p. 19. syll. fl. 

 nap. p. 282. exclusive of the syn. of Schrad. M. emarginata, 

 Rchb. icon. bot. 10. p. 27. t. 979. M. undulata, Rchb. icon, 

 bot. 10. p. 27. t. 980. 



Wild, or Horse Mint. Fl. July, Aug. Britain. PI. 1 to 2 

 feet. 



7 M. ROTUSDIFOLIA (Lin. spec. 825.) stem erect ; leaves 

 sessile, ovate-roundish, crenated, wrinkled, pubescently hairy 

 above, and clothed with loose white wool beneath ; spikes dense, 

 conically cylindrical ; calyxes hairy. l/.H. Native through- 

 out Europe, Africa in the region of the Mediterranean, and of 

 Siberia, among rubbish by way sides, and in ditches ; also of 

 Madeira and North America, in like situations, but probably 

 escaped from gardens ; plentiful in some parts of Britain. 

 Smith, engl. bot. 7. t. 446. M. macrostachya, Tenore, fl. nep. 

 2. p. 20. t. 56. syll. p. 282. M. neglecta, Tenore, fl. nap. 2. p. 

 379. t. 157. f- 1. ex syll. 281. M. fragrans, Presl. del. prag. 

 78. ex Guss. prod. fl. sic. 2. p. 88. M. rugosa, Lam. fl. fr. 2. 

 p. 420. Roth, catal. 2. p. 65. ex Fresen. syll. pi. soc. ratisb. 2. 

 p. 230. M. suaveolens, Ehrh. beitr. 7. p. 149. ex Fresen. I. 

 c. Stem panicled by a few branches at top. Leaves usually 

 obtuse, roundish cordate at the base. Corollas whitish. Sterile 

 s>tamens exserted. 



Round-leated Mint. Fl. July, Sept. Britain. PI. 1 to 2 

 feet. 



8 M. PRATE'NSIS (Sole, menth. brit. t. 17.) leaves nearly ses- 

 sile, ovate-lanceolate, or oblong, serrated, glabrous, or finely 

 pubescent, as well as the erect stem : floral leaves similar, but 

 smaller : superior ones broad-lanceolate, about twice as long as 

 the whorls ; whorls all remote, globose ; pedicels glabrous ; 

 calyx campamilate, with hairy teeth. "JJ. H. Native of the 

 North of Europe ? ; in England in ditches and watery places, 

 but hardly spontaneous, Sole ; Sweden, in cultivated places, 

 apparently wild. M. rubra, Huds. angl. ex Fries, nov. fl. suec. 

 ed. 2d. p. 179. but not of Smith. M. gentilis, Sole, menth. 

 brit. t. 15. Smith, engl. bot. 7. t. 44't. M. gracilis, y, Smith, 

 in Lin. trans. 5. p. 210. Stem purplish red, with short, erect 

 branches, glabrous, or furnished with a few spreading hairs. 

 Cauline leaves deep green, or reddish, glabrous above, but paler 

 beneath, with a few hairs on the veins. Whorls dense. Co- 

 rolla purplish, glabrous, or pubescent outside. Stamens all 

 inclosed. Style exserted. 



Mcadotr Mint. Fl. Ju'.y, Aug. Britain. PI. 1 to 2 feet. 



9 M. SUA'VIS (Guss. pi. rar. p. 287. t. 66.) clothed with soft 

 pubescence, or villi ; leaves petiolate, ovate, acute, serrated, 

 rounded at the base, pale beneath, or hoary : floral leaves small, 

 lanceolate, or conforming to the- lower cauline ones ; whorls 



FIG. 76. 



distinct : lower ones remote : upper ones disposed in a cylindri- 

 cal spike. J/ . H. Native of the South of France, Italy, and 

 Sicily. M. pubescens, Willd. enum. p. 608. ? M. divaricata, 

 Lag. ? M. balsamea, Willd. enum. p. 608. ? M. hirta, Willd. 

 enum. 1. c. Link, enum. 2. p. 105. M. pubescens, Rchb. 

 icon. bot. 10. p. 27. t. 978. M. glomerulata, Jan. M. Langii, 

 Geiger, pharm. bot. 1832. and Nees, pi. med. with a figure. 

 Leaves more or less canescent beneath. Stem usually decum- 

 bent at the base, branched ; branches ascending, rarely erectish. 

 Leaves like those of M. Ptperlta, but soft : upper ones exceeding 

 the whorls. Corolla red, hardly exceeding the calyx. Stamens 

 inclosed. Style exserted. 



Street Mint. Fl. July, Aug. Clt. 1804. PL 1 to 2 feet. 



10 M. VIRIDIS (Lin. spec. 804.) stem erect; leaves nearly 

 sessile, ovate-lanceolate, unequally serrated, and are, as well as 

 the stems, glabrous : floral ones all bractea-formed, rather longer 

 than the whorls, and are. as well as the calyxes, hairy, or 

 glabrous ; spikes cylindrical, loose ; whorls approximate, or 

 the lower ones or all are distant. 1(. . H. Native of the tem- 

 perate parts of Europe, among rubbish ; in Enaland and Scot- 

 land, France, &c. ; also at the Cape of Good Hope, and North 

 and South America, but probably has been carried thither from 

 Europe. Sole, menth. brit. t. 5. Nees, pi. med. with a figure. 

 Smith, engl. bot. t. 2424. Fl. dan. 1876. M. verticillata, 

 Feuill. chil. p. 42. t. 28. M. spicata, Crantz, austr. 328. M. 

 ocimiodora, Opiz. M. brevispicata, Lehm. sem. hort. hamb. 

 1828. M. balsamea, Rchb. fl. 

 germ. exc. p. 309. ? but not of 

 Willd. M. lavigata, Willd. 

 enum. p. 609. N. Niliaca, 

 Vahl, symb. 3. p. 75. M. 

 Pudina, Hamilt. ex Benth. in 

 Wall. pi. rar. 1. p. 29. M. 

 tenuis, Michx. fl. bor. amer. 2. 

 p. 2. Stature, habit, and form 

 of leaves that of M. tylrettris, 

 but is easily distinguished from 

 that species by the stems and 

 leaves being constantly quite 

 glabrous. Spikes usually hairy, 

 but sometimes also glabrous. 

 Corollas purplish. There are 

 several species of Mint culti- 

 vated in gardens for culinary 

 purposes, but principally spear- 

 mint. The young leaves and tops of it are used in spring 

 salads, and form an ingredient in soups. They are also em- 

 ployed to give flavour to certain dishes, as peas, &c., bein;j 

 boiled for a time, and then withdrawn, in the manner of garlic. 

 The lea es have a warm, roughish, bitter taste, and a strong, not 

 unpleasant smell. Their virtues are stomachic and carminitive. 

 The culture of spearmint is the same as that for peppermint, 

 which see. In order to have young leaves and tops all the 

 summer, cut down some advanced stalks every month, when 

 young shoots will be produced; and to have dried balm for 

 winter, permit others to complete their growth, and come into 

 blossom. Dry the crop thus gathered in the shade, and after- 

 wards keep it in small bundles, (fig. 76.) 



I'ar. p, anguttifblia (Lag. ex Benth. lab. p. 174.) leaves nar- 

 row. If. . H. M. tenuifblia, Opiz, ex Rchb. fl. germ. exc. p. 

 309. M. Lejeunii, Opiz, ex. Rchb. 1. c. M. Michelii, Rchb. 

 icon. bot. 10. p. 27. t. 981. 



Var. y, crispa (Benth. lab. p. 174.) leaves curled. I/ H. 

 M. crispata, Schrad. ex Willd. ennm. 608. Nees, pi. off. with 

 a figure. M. Harcynica, Rohl, demch. fl. M. crispa, Roth, 

 tent. fl. germ. 1. p. 248. but not of Lin. M. cordifolia, Opiz, 



