718 



LABIATE. XXVI. MENTHA. 



ex Fresen. in syll. pi. soc. ratisb. 2. p. 232. M. hortensis, Oi>iz, 

 in syll. pi. soc. ratisb. 2. p. 227. 



Green Mint, or Spearmint. Fl. July, Aug. Britain. PI. 2 

 feet. 



11 M. PIPERI'TA (Lin. spec. 805.) leaves petiolate, ovate- 

 oblong, acute, serrated, roundly crenated at the base, and are, 

 as well as the stems, glabrous ; spikes loose, obtuse, short, 

 interrupted at the base ; pedicels and calyxes glabrous at the 

 base, with hispid teeth. If.. H. Native of the North of 

 Europe, spontaneous ; and cultivated throughout Europe, 

 Egypt, Asia, North and South America. Smith, engl. bot. t. 

 687. Nees. pi. off with a figure. Woodv. med. bot. 169. 

 Zorn. icon. t. 56. Petiv. brit. t. 31. t. 10. Ray. syn. t. 10. f. 

 2. M. piperita officinalis, Sole, menth. brit. t. 7. M. piperita 

 vulgaris, Sole, herb, but hardly of menth. brit. t. 8. M. gla- 

 brata, Vahl. symb. 3. p. 75. M. Kahirina, Forsk. fl. segypt. 

 M. balsamea, Willd. enum. p. 608. ? Stem branched, reddish, 

 quite glabrous, or with a few spreading hairs. Petioles usually 

 ciliated. Spikes reddish. Calyxes purplish. Corolla purple, 

 or red. This species, the peppermint, is almost entirely for dis- 

 tillation, for which it is extensively cultivated in low, rich, soft, 

 marshy lands, especially such as can be irrigated or flooded. It 

 is sometimes also cultivated in gardens for its young green tops 

 and leaves, for the purposes of spearmint. The leaves have a 

 strong, rather agreeable smell, and a pungent, aromatic taste, 

 somewhat resembling that of pepper, and accompanied with a 

 peculiar sensation of coldness. Its predominant constituents 

 are essential oil and camphor, both of which rise in distillation, 

 and are combined in what is called oil of peppermint. Pepper- 

 mint is principally used as a carminitive and antispasmodic. 

 The distilled water is a domestic remedy for flatulent colic, and 

 the essential oil is often given with advantage in doses of a few 

 drops in cramps of the stomach. 



Culture. All the species of Mentha, as well as the present, 

 are raised by the same methods, viz. by parting the roots, by 

 offset young plants, and by cuttings of the stalks. By the 

 roots This is performed in spring and autumn. Having some 

 full roots from any established beds, divide them as expedient, 

 and drawing drills, with a hoe about 2 inches deep and 6 inches 

 asunder, place the roots in the drills moderately close, and 

 earth them over to an equal depth. By offsets In the spring 

 procure these from established plants, and dibble them in rows 

 6 inches asunder. By cuttings of the young stalks In May, 

 June, or advanced summer, taking the opportunities of showery 

 weather, cut these into lengths of 5 or 6 inches, and plant the 

 cuttings by dibble, 6 inches apart, inserted half way into the 

 earth. 



Subsequent Culture. Propagated in any of the above methods 

 the plants set in spring or summer will come into use the same 

 year. Water new plants till they take root. Keep them clean 

 from weeds. At the end of autumn cut away any remaining 

 stems, at which season, or in the spring, spread a little loose 

 earth thinly over the beds. 



Taking the crop. " For culinary use or salads, gather both 

 when the young green tops are from one inch to 6 inches in 

 length, and in their advanced growth throughout the summer. 

 When nearly full grown in June, July, or August, or beginning 

 to flower, gather a store for winter, spread the heads thinly in 

 some dry place, shaded from the sun, to be well dried, then, 

 tied in bunches, house the store. When desired for distillation 

 let them attain full growth coming into flower, then cut and use 

 the heads immediately. Peppermint being principally used for 

 distillation, should stand in the ground until they begin to flower, 

 being then in the highest perfection. Cut in dry weather, and 

 tie the bundles, and carry under cover ready for immediate use. 

 Cut -full grown stalks close to the bottom. It is best to cut as 



soon as the dew is off in the morning, for in the afternoon, and 

 especially during bright sunshine, the odour of the plant is found 

 to be much diminished." 



New Plantation. All the species continue by the roots many 

 years, but when the plants grow weakly make a fresh plantation 

 in time. 



Forcing spearmint. Mint in a young green state may be 

 obtained all winter, and early in spring, by planting some roots 

 in a gentle hot-bed, or in pits, or shallow pans, to be plunged 

 therein. Plant the roots pretty thickly, and earth over an inch 

 and a half deep ; or some roots thus planted in pots or boxes 

 may be placed in a stove. Plant for succession every 3 weeks, 

 as forced roots soon decay. 



Vur. ft, ? subhirsuta (Benth. lab. p. 176.) leaves hairy on the 

 nerves beneath, and on the petioles. If.. H. Native of Eng- 

 land, in Norfolk, at a lake called Saha, Smith ; and near Bath, 

 Sole. M. hirsiita, $, Smith, herb. M. piperita sylvestris, Sole, 

 menth. brit. t. 24. M. hirta, Willd. enum. 608. ? M. pimen- 

 tum, Nees, ex llchb. fl. germ. exc. p. 309. 



Pepper Mint. Fl. Aug. Sept. Britain. PI. 1 to 2 feet. 



12 M. CITRATA (Ehrh. beitr. 7. p. 150.) leaves petiolate, 

 ovate, broadly rounded at the base, or subcordate, and are, as 

 well as the stem, glabrous, or the petioles are ciliated ; whorls 

 few, approximate into an oblong head, or the lower one is loose 

 and remote; pedicels and calyxes glabrous. 7. H. Native 

 of England, in watery places in Cheshire, North Wales, and 

 near Bedford, Smith, probably spontaneous. M. nigricans, 

 Mill. diet. no. 12. M. odorata, Sole, menth. brit. t. 9. Smith, 

 in Lin. trans. 5. p. 192. engl. bot. t. 1025. M. adspersa, 

 Moench. menth. 379. ex Willd. spec. 3. p. 79. This is inter- 

 mediate between M. piperita and M. aquatica. Corollas red- 

 dish purple. 



Bergamot Mint. Fl. July. Aug. Britain. PI. 1 foot. 



13 M. AQUA'TICA (Lin. spec. p. 805.) stem beset with reflexed 

 hairs ; leaves petiolate, ovate-serrated, rounded at the base, or 

 sub-cordate, rather hispid on both surfaces, or villous ; lower 

 floral leaves like the others : upper ones bractea-forrned ; 

 whorls few, all, or only 2 or 3 of the upper ones, disposed into 

 globose or oblong heads : upper terminal one often remote from 

 the lower ones ; calyxes tubular, and are, as well as the pedi- 

 cels, villous. Ij. . H. Native of Europe, and Asiatic Russia, 

 very common in watery places and ditches ; and now occurs 

 almost in every part of the globe, but has probably migrated 

 from Europe. Sole, menth. brit. t. 10, 11. M. palvistris, Mill, 

 diet. no. 11. M. hirsuta, Smith, in Lin. trans. 5. p. 193. engl. 

 bot. 7. p. 447. M. pedunculata, Pers. ench. 2. p. 119. Poir. 

 diet, suppl. 3. p. 663. M. pyramidalis, Tenore, fl. nap. p. 33. 

 t. 35. M. acuti-serrata, Opiz, ex Fresen. in syll. pi. soc. ratisb. 

 2. p. 226. M. nigreseens, Weihe, ex Fresen. 1. c. M. bugu- 

 laefolia, Weihe, 1. c. M. brachiata, Weihe, 1. c. M. aurita, 

 Weihe, 1. c. M. origanoides, Lejeune, fl. spa. M. pubescens, 

 Willd. enum. 608. ? Riv. mon. t. 49. Corollas purplish red. 

 The upper head of flowers is always terminal, while the stem of 

 M . arvensis is always indeterminate. 



Far. a, nemorbsa (Fries, nov. fl. suec. ed. 2d. p. 183.) stem 

 and peduncles beset with short, reflexed hairs ; hairs of the 

 leaves few and scattered, of the calyx short and spreading ; 

 whorls few, all globosely capitate, or the lower one remote. 

 If.. H. Native of Britain, Sweden, France, Portugal, Spain, 

 Germany, Italy, Sicily, Greece, Caucasus, Siberia, Azores, 

 Madeira, Cape of Good Hope, Brazil, and North America. M. 

 capitata, Opiz. M. intermedia, Host, fl. austr. 2. p. 141. M. 

 purpurea, Host, fl. austr. 2. p. 141. M. citrata, Rchb. icon, 

 bot. 10. p. 26. t. 977. but hardly of Ehrh. 



Far. /3, hirsuta (Willd. enum. p. 610.) more villous; whorls 

 as in var. a, but usually larger. If, . H. Native of the same 



