THE PEPPER-MINT 



MENTHA PIPERITA 



A MERE touch of the hand, a slight bruising 

 of the heart-shaped leaves between one's 

 fingers, and the secret of this plant's personality 

 is revealed, for a strong scent, like no other 



a, sepals, b, petals, c b, stamens on petals, d, stigmas, style, ovary. 



that we know, exhales. Even if the plant be 

 totally unknown to us by sight, this will at once be- 

 tray it — it is the Pepper-Mint. All the Mints are 

 known by their aromatic essences, but the Pepper- 

 Mint is by far the richest in them. Hidden away in 

 the tissues, chiefly in those of the leaves and the 



sepals, are multitudes of tiny glands containing a 



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