D1DYXAMIA GYMXOSPERMIA 339 



2. Msxtha Tribb. Corolla sub-campanulate, or funnel-form ; limb 4 or 5-cleft, 

 lobes nearly equal ; tube scarcely longer than the calyx. Stamens 4, or sometimes 

 2, distant, straight, diverging. Menthoidejs. Benth. 



269. MENTHA, L. Mitt. Gen. 496. 

 IMinthe,* daughter of Cocytus; fabled to have been changed into this herb.] 



Calyx campanulate, or tubular, 5-toothed, equal ; orifice naked, or 

 rarely villose. Corolla 4-cleft, nearly regular, the broadest lobe emar- 

 ginate. Stamens distant, exserted, or included ; filaments naked ; anth- 

 ers with 2 parallel cells. 



# Floivers in terminal interrupted spikes. 



1. M. viridis, L. Leaves oblon g-lanceolate, acutely incised-sersite, 



subsessile ; spikes slender, elongated, attenuated at summit ; bracts 



subulate. Beck, Bot. p. 272. 



M. tenuis? Mx. Am. 2. p. 2. Pursh,Jlm, 2. p. 405. JSfutt. Gen. 2. p. 



26. Ell. Sk. 2. p. 72. Also 1 Pers. Syn. 2.p.U 9. Eat. .Man. p. 



224. 



Also ? M. gracilis. Muhl. Catal. p. 55. Bart. Phil. 2. p. 216. 



Greex Mentha. Vulgo — Spear-mint Common Mint. 

 Ga//.-Baume verte. Germ.-Bic Spitzmiinze. /lisp.-Menta puntiaguda. 

 Root perennial, creeping. Stern 1 to 2 feet high, erect, branching, smoothish, 

 mostly green. Leaves 1 to 2 or 3 inches long, aud half an inch to near an inch 

 wide, obi jng-lanceolate, very acute, with slender serratures, smoothish, some- 

 times a little hirsute beneath, punctate, palish green, sessile, or subsessile. Spikes 

 terminal, numerous, appearing somewhat paniculate, 2 to 4 inches long, slender, 

 tapering to a point. Flowers in distant verticils. Bracts subulate, with setaceous 

 points, pilose-ciliate. Calyx smoothish, or sometimes rather hirsute. Corolla 

 pale purple, slender. Stamens of variable length, mostly shorter than the corol- 

 la. Style much exserted* 



Hob. Moist grounds ; along rivulets, &c. frequent. Fl. July— Aug. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This pleasant aromatic plant is becoming extensively naturalized ; and 

 is deservedly popular as a domestic medicine, in relieving nausea, <3cc. It is subject 

 to varieties,— and probably the M. tenuis of Michaux, Elliott , &c and the M» 

 gracilis, Muhl. may be of them* 



2. M. piperita, iSm. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, serrate, petiolate; 

 spikes oblong, obtuse ; bracts lanceolate ; calyx glandular-dotted. Beck, 

 Bot.p. 272. Not? oiL. 



Pepper Mentha. Vutgd — Pepper-Mint. 



Gallice — La Menthe. Germ. — Pfeffermiinze. Hisp. — Menta piperita. 

 Root perennial, creeping. Stem 1 to 2 feet high, branching, mostly smoothish 

 and dark purple, sometimes pubescent. Leaves 1 to 2 inches long, and half an 

 inch to an inch wide, more or less ovate, rather acute, smoothish, dark green ; 

 petioles 1 fourth to half an inch long. Spikes half an inch to an inch or more in 

 length, and about half an inch in diameter, terminal, solitary, cylindric, obtuse ; 

 verticils crowded, except the lower one which is often a little distant. Bracts 

 linear-lanceolate, ciliate. Calyx sprinkled with yellow resinous dots. Corolla 

 purple, larger than in the preceding. Stamens included. Style exserted. 

 Hab. Low moist grounds: not uncommon. Fl. August. Fr. Sept— October. 



