io8 WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
Rather rare. In damp pastures, by ditches; distributed throughout the south of England, very 
rare in the north and in Scotland. August — September. Perennial. 
4. *Spear Mint. (Men tha spicata. Linn.) — This species is very like the last, the 
Horse Mint (Mentha longifolia). It has similar slender spikes of flowers which are rather looser, 
the corolla is smooth, not hairy, and the whole plant is much greener and smoother and is without 
the shaggy hairs of all the preceding species. (. Mentha viridis. Linn.) 
This is the species usually grown as a pot-herb, and is only known in countries where it has 
been cultivated for a long time. 
Rare, not a native, though found in England, Scotland, and Ireland. August — September. 
Perennial. 
5. Peppermint. (Men'tha piperita. Linn.) — A somewhat similar species to the last 
but with shorter, thicker, and blunter spikes, which are often interrupted ; the calyx is often red ; 
the stems are shorter and slighter ; and the leaves are definitely stalked and broader. The whole 
plant is smooth and almost free from hairs, as is the last, and has a most powerful aromatic scent. 
This species is largely cultivated, as it abounds in an essential oil which is useful in medicine 
and is included in our pharmacopoeia, and is also in great demand for confectionery. 
Rare. In wet places ; in England, Scotland, and Ireland. July — September. Perennial. 
6. Marsh Mint. (Men'tha aquat'ica. Linn.)— The flowers of this species are larger than 
those of the preceding ones ; they are about ^ inch long, pale lilac, and are massed together in 
round or oblong terminal heads, with or without one or two more distant clusters (whorls) ; the 
corolla is hairy both inside and out. [As described in the genus Mint (Mentha).] The stems are 
1-4 feet high, branched, and softly downy; the leaves are stalked, egg-shaped (ovate), pointed, 
sometimes heart-shaped (cordate) at the base, toothed (serrate), and usually softly hairy on 
both sides. 
This is the commonest Mint in the British Isles, and one of the most variable ; under its name the 
London Catalogue gives three varieties and two hybrids with five varieties. [ Plate 37. 
Very common. By ditches, streams, marshes, and in damp places ; throughout England, Scotland, 
and Ireland. July — September. Perennial. 
7. Marsh Whorled Mint. (Men'tha gentil'is. Linn.) — This species is intermediate 
between the last — the Marsh Mint (Mentha aquatica) — and the Corn Mint (Mentha arvensis) ; 
it is, with the 2 following species, put under the name of Mentha sativa by many authorities. 
The differences between the three are not of importance to the amateur botanist ; as a matter 
of fact they vary much and often slide into one another. The mauve flowers are all in distinct 
clusters in the leaf-axils (false whorls), and are never collected together into heads or spikes, 
indeed the uppermost leaves are usually without flowers ; the calyx is tubular and the teeth 
narrower than in the Corn Mint (Mentha arvensis) ; the corolla is without hairs (glabrous) ; the 
stem is 1-2 feet high, branched, and more or less hairy ; the leaves are spreading, shortly 
stalked, large, egg-shaped and pointed, toothed, with few veins, and slightly hairy on both sides. 
Not common. In wet places ; in England and Scotland. July — September. Perennial. 
8. Tall Red Mint. (Men'tha rtibra. Sm.) — A very similar species to the last, but with 
larger redder flowers and the veins of the leaves purple. 
Not common. In wet places, in England, Scotland, and Ireland. August — September. Perennial. 
9. Cardiac Mint. (Men'tha gracilis. Sm.) — Another similar species to the Marsh 
Whorled Mint (Mentha gentilis), differing in being more slender and smoother, and in having 
narrower and nearly stalkless leaves. 
Rare. In wet places in a few stations in England. July — August. Perennial. 
