A GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS 233 



less, lance-shaped, i>4-2>4 in. long. Flowers in usually 

 branched, somewhat loose and interrupted spikes, the central 

 one longer than the side ones. In moist fields and waste 

 places, almost throughout North America. August. A closely- 

 related species, M. piperita, the Peppermint, is also smooth, 

 but has denser, not interrupted spikes, and has a similar 

 range. 



715. Horse Mint. Mentha longifolia. Suggesting No. 714, 

 but the flower spikes longer and more pointed, and the 

 whole plant hairy. In waste places. Conn, to Delaware, and 

 west to Ohio. July-October. Fig. 715. A related species, M. 

 aquatica, the Water Mint, is also hairy, but has broad, oval 

 leaves, and shorter, denser spikes of flowers. It is found 

 from Nova Scotia to Penn. and Georgia. Both are natives 

 of Europe. 



716. American Wild Mint. Mentha canadensis. A hairy, 

 somewhat weak perennial, 8-18 in. high. Leaves lance-shaped, 

 narrowed to a stalk-like base, 2-3 in. long, and sharply 

 toothed. Flowers in dense tight, round, clusters, among the 

 upper leaf joints. In moist places. New Brunswick to Vir- 

 ginia, and westward. July-October. Fig. 716. A related 

 European species, M. arvensis, the Corn Mint, differs in 

 having leaves rounded at the base, and with more rounded 

 leaf -teeth. It is widely distributed, but locally rare. 



717. BUGLE-WEED AND WATER HOARHOUND. 

 LYCOPUS. 



Suggesting the Mints in habit and foliage, but not aro- 

 matic. Flowers in dense tight clusters, wholly from among 

 the leaves, never in terminal clusters. Corolla very small, 

 usually under Y^ in. high, often partly or wholly hidden by 

 the surrounding united sepals which have long points in 

 some species. (Lamiaccae.) See No. 740. The plants are 

 difficult to identfy, and only three are included here: 



Tips of united sepals blunt, not half hiding the tiny flower 



Bugle-weed no. 718 



Tips of united sepals long-pointed, half hiding the tiny flower 



