''Minthostachys'' is a genus of the mint family

Lamiaceae The Lamiaceae ( ) or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory ...

, comprising aromatic scandent shrubs. It occurs along the

Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...

from Northern

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

through

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

and

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

to Central

Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...

.Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
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Use and conservation

The plants are valued by the local population for their content in essential oils, mostly

pulegone Pulegone is a naturally occurring organic compound obtained from the essential oils of a variety of plants such as ''Nepeta cataria'' (catnip), ''Mentha piperita'', and pennyroyal. It is classified as a monoterpene. Pulegone is a clear colorles ...

and

menthone Menthone is a monoterpene with a minty flavor that occurs naturally in a number of essential oils. ''l''-Menthone (or (2''S'',5''R'')-''trans''-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexanone), shown at right, is the most abundant in nature of the four possible ...

, but also

limonene Limonene is a colorless liquid aliphatic hydrocarbon classified as a cyclic monoterpene, and is the major component in the oil of citrus fruit peels. The -isomer, occurring more commonly in nature as the fragrance of oranges, is a flavoring ag ...

carvone Carvone is a member of a family of chemicals called terpenoids. Carvone is found naturally in many essential oils, but is most abundant in the oils from seeds of caraway (''Carum carvi''), spearmint (''Mentha spicata''), and dill. Uses Both carvo ...

carvacrol Carvacrol, or cymophenol, C6H3(CH3)(OH)C3H7, is a monoterpenoid phenol. It has a characteristic pungent, warm odor of oregano. Natural occurrence Carvacrol is present in the essential oil of ''Origanum vulgare'' (oregano), oil of thyme, oil ob ...

thymol Thymol (also known as 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol, IPMP), , is a natural monoterpenoid phenol derivative of ''p''-Cymene, isomeric with carvacrol, found in oil of thyme, and extracted from ''Thymus vulgaris'' (common thyme), ajwain, and vario ...

and similar substances. They are used as condiments, medicinally against illnesses of the respiratory and digestive systems, and traditionally for the protection of stored tubers against pests, especially in Southern Peru. In Argentina and Peru, the essential oils are extracted commercially on a larger scale, and at least locally, this has led to

overexploitation Overexploitation, also called overharvesting, refers to harvesting a renewable resource to the point of diminishing returns. Continued overexploitation can lead to the destruction of the resource, as it will be unable to replenish. The term app ...

in recent years. Argentine researchers are looking for ways to protect ''Minthostachys'' or to take it into cultivation to meet increasing demand.Noticias Ambientales de la Provincia de Córdoba: Escasez de peperina, el yuyo cordobés
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Important species and common names

The best known species are ''

Minthostachys mollis ''Minthostachys mollis'' is a medicinal plant restricted to the South American Andes from Peru Venezuela to Bolivia. It is the most variable and widely distributed species of the genus ''Minthostachys''. It is known by the common names muña, tip ...

'' distributed from Venezuela to Bolivia and ''

Minthostachys verticillata ''Minthostachys verticillata'', commonly known as peperina, is the only species of the genus ''Minthostachys'' known from Argentina. It occurs in the northwestern and central regions of the country. It may be the most economically important spe ...

'' of Argentina. Many species have a relatively restricted distribution but are locally common, like '' Minthostachys acutifolia'' around La Paz and '' Minthostachys ovata'' in central Bolivia. The common names used by the people of the Andes usually do not differentiate between species, but vary by region. In Ecuador, the genus is called tipo or poleo, in northern Peru chancua, from central Peru to Bolivia muña, and in Argentina peperina is the most frequently used name.

Species

Currently recognized species # '' Minthostachys acris'' Schmidt-Leb. - Peru # '' Minthostachys acutifolia'' Epling - Bolivia # '' Minthostachys andina'' (Britton ex Rusby) Epling - La Paz region of Bolivia # '' Minthostachys diffusa'' Epling - La Paz region of Bolivia # '' Minthostachys dimorpha'' Schmidt-Leb. - Peru # '' Minthostachys elongata'' Schmidt-Leb. - Tarija region of Bolivia # '' Minthostachys fusca'' Schmidt-Leb. - La Paz region of Bolivia # '' Minthostachys glabrescens'' (Benth.) Epling - Ecuador # '' Minthostachys latifolia'' Schmidt-Leb. - Peru, Bolivia # ''

'' (Benth.) Griseb. - Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru # '' Minthostachys ovata'' (Briq.) Epling - Bolivia # '' Minthostachys rubra'' Schmidt-Leb. - Ecuador # '' Minthostachys salicifolia'' Epling - Peru # '' Minthostachys septentrionalis'' Schmidt-Leb. - Venezuela, Colombia # '' Minthostachys setosa'' (Briq.) Epling - Bolivia # '' Minthostachys spicata'' (Benth.) Epling - Ecuador, Peru # ''

'' (Griseb.) Epling - Argentina

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q289942 Lamiaceae Lamiaceae genera Flora of South America