MINT NOTES 



119 



(M. arvensis X spicata). In Syme's herbarium there is a specimen from Kincardine, 

 which may be that referred to in Baker's text, and this is a subspicate form of M. X 

 verticillata L. The above evidence would seem to indicate that, whatever Baker intended 

 by this variety, it was not a water mint. 



On the other hand, this variety has been very widely treated as a water mint in many 

 British works, and many subglabrous forms of M. aquatica L. have received this varietal 

 name in our national herbaria. Further, there is in Syme's herbarium an undoubted 

 water mint named as var. subglabra in Baker's hand. Fraser (1927, 228, 232), it will be 

 noted, refers to this variety both under M. aquatica var. major and under M. X verticillata 

 var. ovalifolia (Opiz) H. Braun. 



It is likely that, whatever his original view. Baker came to regard M. aquatica L. and 

 M. X verticillata L. as essentially the same sort of mint, differing only in the form of 

 the inflorescence. This was Smith's view (1825, 78-82), also that of Fries. The latter' s 

 var. suavifolia, cited by Baker as a synonym of var. subglabra, is placed under a capitate- 

 verticillate division of M. aquatica L., and this section would seem to comprise subspicate 

 forms of M. X verticillata L. On such a basis it would be possible to regard var. subglabra 

 as applicable to both groups. The two are, however, differentiable both morphologically 

 and cytologically, and as var. subglabra was originally described as a variety of M. sativa 

 L. it is scarcely possible to retain it also as a variety of M. aquatica L. 



(v) var. lobeliana Becker (1828, 222). 



Stengel krausshaarig oder hdkerig, fast einfach; Blumenkdpfe alle achselstdndig, 

 auf Gipfel ein einzelner kleinster. Mentha cardiaca Lobel, obss. p. 271, fig. 4, ic. 

 p. 508, fig. 1. 



This variety has come down to us, chiefly through Briquet and Fraser, as a small- 

 leaved, thinly hairy form of M. aquatica L. Becker places it under his hirsuta, which 

 can be taken to imply M. hirsuta Huds. One may question whether the word alle may 

 not more correctly refer to a verticillate mint, perhaps a subspicate form of M. X verti- 

 cillata L. or of M. X gracilis var. cardiaca (Baker) Briquet. The small terminal capitulum 

 is sometimes found in forms of these two hybrid groups, surmounting an otherwise 

 multiverticillate inflorescence. Further, there is, in Becker's text, the clear reference 

 to M. cardiaca Lobel. This - Cardiac Mint - has been known as a medical herb from 

 pre-Linnean times, and is no doubt the M. cardiaca of Gerarde and Baker. Whereas 

 the ancient icones may not always accurately represeiit the plants they purport to be, in 

 the case of Becker's references they have every appearance of being M. cardiaca. This 

 evidence would seem to indicate that var. lobeliana was merely another name for M. cardiaca 

 Lobel, Gerard, et alior. It is quite likely that Becker regarded this hybrid mint as 

 essentially the same sort of mint as M. aquatica L., differentiation in those days being 

 often shallow in this genus. 



Briquet (1891, 83) who apparently examined Becker's specimens, described one of 

 these as the true var. lobeliana, and this was evidently a water mint. At the same time 

 Briquet says that under this varietal name Becker, according to his herbarium, included 

 many forms - whether all are water mints or not I do not at present know. Briquet's 

 statement that the original description can be applied to all varieties of M. aquatica is 

 a somewhat debatable point - one with which I am disinclined to agree. Braun, who 

 no doubt also saw Becker's specimens, classes this variety under his M. paludosa Sole 

 (M. X verticillata L. var. paludosa (Sole) Druce), a treatment with which Briquet disagreed, 

 but one which appears to be rather nearer the truth according to Becker's text. The 

 whole matter is very confusing, and a great deal must depend on Becker's specimens. At 

 any rate for the time being, I would question the inclusion of this variety in the water 



