MINT FAMILY 



LABIATAE 



HORSE MINT 



Monarda punctata L. 



The Horse Mint and its close relative the WUd Bergamot 

 are very fragrant and yield an oil used in the manufacture of 

 perfume. This species blooms in midsummer and continues 



late, sometimes after the first 

 heavy frost, and through this 

 long season yields a high 

 grade of honey. 



This common perennial 

 grows in sandy open places 

 from New York to Minnesota 

 and south to Florida and Texas. 

 As is the case with most sand- 

 growing plants, it is usually 

 covered rather densely with 

 soft hairs. The square stem 

 grows 2-3 feet high and is often 

 much branched. The lanceolate 

 or oblong leaves are sparsely 

 serrate, 1-3 inches long and 

 taper into the petioles. They 

 often have smaller leaves clus- 

 tered in the axils. 



The numerous flower 

 clusters are axillary as well as terminal and the bracts that 

 surround them are yellowish or purplish and more conspicuous 

 than the flowers. The tubular calyx is somewhat hairy inside and 

 its 5 teeth are very short. The yellowish corolla is spotted with 

 purple on the upper as well as the lower lip. The 2 stamens do 

 not extend beyond the hairy upper lip. The nutlets from the 

 deeply 4-parted ovary are ovoid and smooth. 



The Bradbury Monarda, Monarda Bradburiana Beck, is our 

 only species with sessile leaves. The plant grows on dry hills and 

 open woodland areas, is 1-2 feet high and blooms from May to 

 July. The ovate leaves are serrate, long pointed and generally 

 heart shaped at the base. The bright green calyx is smooth outside 

 and bristly within, about one-half inch long, shaped like a vase and 

 constricted just below the 5 long teeth at the summit. The pink or 

 white corolla has purple spots, and its upper lip is hairy. 



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