Mentha × villosa-nervata
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''Mentha'' (also known as mint, from Greek ,
Linear B Linear B was a syllabic script used for writing in Mycenaean Greek, the earliest attested form of Greek. The script predates the Greek alphabet by several centuries. The oldest Mycenaean writing dates to about 1400 BC. It is descended from ...
''mi-ta'') is a genus of plants in the 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 ...
(mint family). The exact distinction between species is unclear; it is estimated that 13 to 24 species exist.
Hybridization Hybridization (or hybridisation) may refer to: *Hybridization (biology), the process of combining different varieties of organisms to create a hybrid *Orbital hybridization, in chemistry, the mixing of atomic orbitals into new hybrid orbitals *Nu ...
occurs naturally where some species' ranges overlap. Many hybrids and cultivars are known. The genus has a subcosmopolitan distribution across Europe, Africa - (Southern Africa), Asia, Australia - Oceania, North America and South America. Its species can be found in many environments, but most grow best in wet environments and moist soils.


Description

Mints are aromatic, almost exclusively perennial
herbs In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...
. They have wide-spreading underground and overground
stolon In biology, stolons (from Latin '' stolō'', genitive ''stolōnis'' – "branch"), also known as runners, are horizontal connections between organisms. They may be part of the organism, or of its skeleton; typically, animal stolons are external s ...
s and erect, square, branched stems. Mints will grow 10–120 cm (4–48 inches) tall and can spread over an indeterminate area. Due to their tendency to spread unchecked, some mints are considered
invasive Invasive may refer to: *Invasive (medical) procedure *Invasive species *Invasive observation, especially in reference to surveillance *Invasively progressive spread of disease from one organ in the body to another, especially in reference to cancer ...
. The
leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
are arranged in opposite pairs, from oblong to lanceolate, often downy, and with a serrated margin. Leaf colors range from dark green and gray-green to purple, blue, and sometimes pale yellow. The flowers are produced in long bracts from leaf axils. They are white to purple and produced in false whorls called verticillasters. The corolla is two-lipped with four subequal lobes, the upper lobe usually the largest. The fruit is a nutlet, containing one to four seeds.


Taxonomy

''Mentha'' is a member of the tribe Mentheae in the
subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
Nepetoideae. The tribe contains about 65 genera, and relationships within it remain obscure. Authors have disagreed on the circumscription of ''Mentha''. For example, ''M. cervina'' has been placed in ''Pulegium'' and ''Preslia'', and ''M. cunninghamii'' has been placed in '' Micromeria''. In 2004, a
molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...
study indicated that both ''M. cervina'' and ''M. cunninghamii'' should be included in ''Mentha''. However, ''M. cunninghamii'' was excluded in a 2007 treatment of the genus. More than 3,000 names have been published in the genus ''Mentha'', at ranks from species to forms, the majority of which are regarded as
synonyms A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...
or illegitimate names. The taxonomy of the genus is made difficult because many species hybridize readily, or are themselves derived from possibly ancient hybridization events. Seeds from hybrids give rise to variable offspring, which may spread through vegetative propagation. The variability has led to what has been described as "paroxysms of species and subspecific taxa"; for example, one taxonomist published 434 new mint taxa for central Europe alone between 1911 and 1916. Recent sources recognize between 18 and 24 species.


Species

,
Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...
recognized the following species: *''
Mentha alaica ''Mentha alaica'' is a mint species within the genus ''Mentha'', native to the Pamir-Alay mountain range within Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The species was recorded by Russian botanist Antonina Borissova in 1954. Taxonomy While it is accepted as ...
'' Boriss. *'' Mentha aquatica'' L. – water mint, marsh mint *'' Mentha arvensis'' L. – corn mint, wild mint, Japanese peppermint, field mint, banana mint *''
Mentha atrolilacina ''Mentha atrolilacina'', or slender mint, is a species within the '' Mentha'' (mint) genus, endemic to southeastern South Australia. It has been identified only within the Honans Native Forest Reserve, near Mount Gambier, South Australia. Prior ...
''
B.J.Conn Barry John Conn (Barry Conn, born 1948), is an Australian botanist. He was awarded a Ph.D. from Adelaide University in 1982 for work on '' Prostanthera''. Career Conn's first appointment as a botanist was with the Lae Herbarium in 1974. H ...
& D.J.Duval
– slender mint *''
Mentha australis ''Mentha australis'' is known by the common names of river mint, native mint, native peppermint, and Australian mint. It is a mint species within the genus ''Mentha''. It is a native of eastern Australia, occurring in every state and territory ...
'' R.Br. – Australian mint *''
Mentha canadensis ''Mentha canadensis'' is a species of Mentha, mint native to North America (from the Northwest Territories to central Mexico) and the eastern part of Asia (from Siberia to Java). In North America, it is commonly known as Canada mint, American wil ...
'' L. – Canada mint, American wild mint *'' Mentha cervina'' L. – Hart's pennyroyal *''
Mentha cunninghamii ''Mentha cunninghamii'', known commonly as New Zealand mint or Māori mint, is a species within the ''Mentha'' (mint) genus, endemic to New Zealand. Name The plant was named to honor English botanist Allan Cunningham, who was known for his pl ...
'' (Benth.) Benth. – New Zealand mint *''
Mentha dahurica ''Mentha dahurica'', or Dahurian thyme, is a mint species within the genus ''Mentha'', native to Siberia, the Russian Far East, Japan, and northeastern China. The epithet honors the Daur people of Inner Mongolia Inner Mongolia, officiall ...
'' Fisch. ex Benth. – Dahurian thyme *''
Mentha darvasica ''Mentha darvasica'' is a mint species within the genus ''Mentha'', native to Darvaz, Tajikistan. The species was recorded by Russian botanist Antonina Borissova in 1954. Taxonomy While it is accepted as a distinct species by authorities such ...
'' Boriss. *'' Mentha diemenica'' Spreng. – slender mint *''
Mentha gattefossei ''Mentha gattefossei'' is a plant species in the genus ''Mentha'', endemic to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. It was first described by French botanist René Maire in 1922. Harvested for its essential oil, ''M. gattefossei'' has seen use in tradi ...
'' Maire *'' Mentha grandiflora'' Benth. *''
Mentha japonica ''Mentha japonica'' is a plant species in the genus ''Mentha'', endemic to the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu, Japan. Initially described as ''Micromeria japonica'' by Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel, it was first identified under its present name ...
'' (Miq.) Makino *'' Mentha laxiflora'' Benth. – forest mint *'' Mentha longifolia'' (L.) L. – horse mint *'' Mentha micrantha'' (Fisch. ex Benth.) Heinr.Braun *''
Mentha pamiroalaica ''Mentha pamiroalaica'' is a mint species within the genus ''Mentha'', endemic to the Gissar Range in Tajikistan. The species was recorded by Russian botanist Antonina Borissova in 1954. Taxonomy While it is accepted as a distinct species by au ...
'' Boriss. *'' Mentha pulegium'' L. – pennyroyal *''
Mentha requienii ''Mentha requienii'', or Corsican mint, is a herb and species of mint, native to Corsica, Sardinia, and Montecristo Island, and naturalized in Portugal and in the British Isles. It is a very low-growing species with bright green leaves and a ...
'' Benth. – Corsican mint *'' Mentha royleana'' Wall. ex Benth. *'' Mentha satureioides'' R.Br. – native pennyroyal *'' Mentha spicata'' L. – spearmint, garden mint (a cultivar of spearmint) *'' Mentha suaveolens'' Ehrh. – apple mint, pineapple mint (a variegated cultivar of apple mint)


Other species

There are a number of plants that have mint in the Norwegian name in Norway and also the same in other Scandinavian countries here, but which do not belong to the genus ''Mentha'': * Canada mint (''Mentha canadensis'') * Meadow mint (''Mentha ×gracilis'') ** Meadow mint (''Mentha arvensis x spicata'') * Gray mint (''Mentha longifolia'') * Peppermint (''Mentha ×piperita'') * Polemint (''Mentha pulegium'') * Woolly mint (''Mentha ×rotundifolia'') * Toothmint (''Mentha ×smithiana'') * Mentha × villosa * Tea mint (''Mentha ×verticillata'') * Water mint, Mentha aquatica (water mint; syn. Mentha hirsuta Huds.) (''Mentha aquatica'') ** Marsh mint * Field mint (''Mentha arvensis'') ** Mentha arvensis 'Banana' (Banana Mint) * Mint genus (''Acinos'') ** Backlemint (''Acinos arvensis'') * Specially minted Selecta mint, (''Sideritis'') ** Sidermint (''Sideritis montana'') * Peppermint (''Mentha × piperita'') (black and white peppermint) ** Peppermint (''Mentha requienii'') – Corsican Mint ** Peppermint (''Mentha x piperita'') ** Chinese Peppermint ** Japanese Peppermint ** Moroccan mint ** Swiss mint ** Chocolate mint (''Mentha × piperita'') ** Chocolate mint (''Mentha 'Chocolate) * Spearmint (''Mentha spicata'') ** Green mint (''Mentha spicata'') ** Spearmint Mentha spicata Linné ** Sight. M. crispa Wenderoth *** Spearmint Crispa *** Spearmint (''Mentha spicata var. 'Crispa) *** Spearmint - Mentha Spicata Crispa. ('Mentha spicata 'Crispa') *** Mentha 'Curly' (Spearmint) *** Spearmint species (Acinos) *** Spearmint (Acinos arvensis) *** Spearmint (Mentha spicata) *** Spearmint (Mentha suaveolens) *** Spearmint (Origanum vulgare) *** Moroccan mint (''Mentha spicata 'MOROCCO'), Mint Moroccan (Mentha spicata 'Morocco) Moroccan mint is a mint of spearmint, Mentha spicata var. Crispa. The variety is called 'Moroccan' Mentha spicata var. crispa 'Moroccan' *** Mentha spicata Moroccan wild - Moroccan Mint 32a *** Mentha spicata Moroccan wild - Moroccan Mint Bord 32a * Bowles mint (''Mentha villosa'') ** Bowles mint (''Mentha × villosa 'Alopecuroides') * Meadow mint (''Mentha arvensis x spicata'') ** Meadow Mint (''Mentha x gracilis'') * Lemon mint (Mentha X gentilis) ** Lemon mint (''Mentha x piperita var. citrata'') ** Mentha ssp. 'Hilary's Sweet Lemon' (Mentha X gentilis) * Strawberry mint, Mentha Spicata, Mentha X piperita 'Strawberry' (Strawberry mint) (Mentha species 'Erdbeer') * Mojito Mint (''Mentha Spicata 'Mojito') ** Cuba mint * Eau de Cologneminten (''Mentha × piperita 'Citrata') * Kiwi mint (''Mentha cunninghamii'') * Flea mint (''Mentha requienii'') ** Corsican Mint * Grey mint (''Mentha longifolia'') * Mentha pulegium (''Mentha pulegium'') - (European) pennyroyal, or pennyrile, also called mosquito plant and pudding grass. * Round leaf mint (''Mentha suaveolens'') or apple mint, Mentha suaveolens, apple mint, pineapple mint, woolly mint or round leaf mint (synonyms M. rotundifolia, Mentha macrostachya, Mentha insularis). ** Mentha suaveolens, the apple mint, pineapple mint, woolly mint or round-leafed mint (synonyms M. rotundifolia, Mentha macrostachya, Mentha insularis) ** Apple mint (roundleaf mint) (''Mentha suaveolens (M. rotundifolia'') ** Red stemmed apple mint (Mentha x gracilis) ** Apple mint (Mentha rotundifolia) ** Apple mint (''Mentha suaveolens'') ** Applemint (Woolmint) ** Variegated apple mint (''Mentha Suaveolens'') ** Variegated apple mint (variegated apple mint) * Variegated Mint variegata (Variegated Mint - Mentha Rotundifolia, "Variegata") ** Variegated mint variegata 450 * Pineapple mint ** Variegated pineapple mint (Mint - Pineapple Mint) * Ginger mint ** Variegated Ginger Mint * Pennyroyal * Red Raripila mint * Mentha × rotundifolia ** Mentha × rotundifolia (M. longifolia × M. suaveolens) * Mentha longifolia var. asiatica * Mentha spicata 'Abura' (Japanese mint) (Japanese medicine mint) * Spearmint species (Acinos) ** Spearmint (Acinos arvensis) * Horsemint family (Agastache) ** Korean horsemint (Agastache rugosa) ** Horsemint (Agastache urticifolia) * Calamintha (Calamintha) ** Rosemary (Calamintha grandiflora) * Clinopodium (Clinopodium) ** Clinopodium vulgare (Clinopodium vulgare) * Comb mint family (Elsholtzia) ** Comb mint (Elsholtzia ciliata) * Borage (Marrubium) ** Borage (Marrubium vulgare) * Monarda ** Horsemint (Monarda didyma) ** Monarda fistulosa * Catnip (Nepeta) ** Catnip (Nepeta cataria) * Ornamental catmint (Nepeta ×faassenii) * Large Catnip (Nepeta grandiflora) ** Catnip (Nepeta nuda) ** Catnip (Nepeta racemosa) * Rock mint family (Origanum) ** Spearmint (Origanum vulgare) ** Greek mountain mint (Origanum vulgare ssp. prismaticum) ** Wild mountain mint or kung (Origanum vulgare ssp. vulgare) * Sideritis (Sideritis) ** Sideritis montana (Sideritis montana) *
Vietnamese mint ''Persicaria odorata'', with common names Vietnamese coriander, rau răm, laksa leaf, Vietnamese cilantro, phak phai, praew leaf, hot mint and Cambodian mint, is an herb with aromatic leaves, used in Southeast Asian and Northeast Indian cooking. ...
, Cambodian mint, hot mint, Persicaria odorata ( Polygonaceae) * Mexican mint marigold, Tagetes lucida ( Asteraceae) * Balm mint (Melissa officinalis) mint family ** Balm mint (Melittis melissophyllum) ** Richweed, or horse balm mint (Collinsonia canadensis) ** Field balm, or creeping Charlie mint (Glechoma hederacea) ** Lesser calamint, or field balm mint (Clinopodium nepeta) ** Lemon balm mint * Catnip (Nepeta cataria) * Mentha canadensis * Mentha haplocalyx * Mentha canadensis * Mentha cervina * Mentha japonica * Mentha alopecuroides * Mentha nemorosa * Mentha asiatica * Mentha vagans


Hybrids

The mint genus has a large grouping of recognized hybrids. Those accepted by Plants of the World Online are listed below. Parent species are taken from Tucker & Naczi (2007). Synonyms, along with cultivars and varieties where available, are included within the specific nothospecies. * ''Mentha'' × ''carinthiaca'' Host (''M. arvensis'' × ''M. suaveolens'') * ''Mentha'' × ''dalmatica'' Tausch (''M. arvensis'' × ''M. longifolia'') * ''Mentha'' × ''dumetorum'' Schult. (''M. aquatica'' × ''M. longifolia'') * ''Mentha'' × ''gayeri'' Trautm. * ''Mentha'' × ''gracilis'' Sole (syn. ''Mentha'' × ''gentilis'' L.; ''M. arvensis'' × ''M. spicata'') – ginger mint, Scotch spearmint * ''Mentha'' × ''kuemmerlei'' Trautm. * ''Mentha'' × ''locyana'' Borbás * ''Mentha'' × ''piperita'' L. (''M. aquatica'' × ''M. spicata'') – peppermint, chocolate mint * ''Mentha'' × ''pyramidalis'' Ten. * ''Mentha'' × ''rotundifolia'' (L.) Huds. (''M. longifolia'' × ''M. suaveolens'') – false apple mint * ''Mentha'' × ''suavis'' Guss. (syn. ''Mentha'' × ''maximilianea''; ''M. aquatica'' × ''M. suaveolens'') * ''Mentha'' × ''verticillata'' L. (''M. aquatica'' × ''M. arvensis'') * ''Mentha'' × ''villosa'' Huds. (''M. spicata'' × ''M. suaveolens'', also called ''M. nemorosa'') – large apple mint, foxtail mint, hairy mint, woolly mint, Cuban mint, mojito mint, and ''yerba buena'' in Cuba * ''Mentha'' × ''villosa-nervata'' Opiz (''M. longifolia'' × ''M. spicata'') – sharp-toothed mint * ''Mentha'' × ''wirtgeniana'' F.W.Schultz (syn. ''Mentha'' × ''smithiana''; ''M. aquatica'' × ''M. arvensis'' × ''M. spicata'') – red raripila mint * ''Mentha'' × ''amblardii'' Debeaux (syn. ''Mentha'' × ''suavis'') *'' Mentha × lamiifolia'' Ten (syn. ''Mentha'' × ''suavis'') *'' Mentha × langii'' Steud. ex Hagenb (syn. ''Mentha'' × ''suavis'') *'' Mentha × mauponii'' Gadeceau (syn. ''Mentha'' × ''suavis'') *'' Mentha × maximilianea'' F.W.Schultz (syn. ''Mentha'' × ''suavis'') *''
Mentha × maximilianea subsp. baileyi ''Mentha'' (also known as mint, from Greek , Linear B ''mi-ta'') is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae (mint family). The exact distinction between species is unclear; it is estimated that 13 to 24 species exist. Hybridization occurs ...
'' Briq (syn. ''Mentha'' × ''suavis'') *'' Mentha × rodriguezii'' Malinv (syn. ''Mentha'' × ''suavis'') *'' Mentha × weissenburgensis'' F.W.Schultz (syn. ''Mentha'' × ''suavis'') *'' Mentha × maximilianea'' F.W.Schultz, F.W.Schultz Flora, Schultz, F. 16 France, Schultz, F. 15 France, Boutigny, J.F.D. .n. France, Boutigny, J.F.D. 38 France (syn. ''Mentha'' × ''suavis'')


Cultivation

All mints thrive near pools of water, lakes, rivers, and cool moist spots in partial shade. In general, mints tolerate a wide range of conditions, and can also be grown in full sun. Mint grows all year round. They are fast-growing, extending their reach along surfaces through a network of
runners Running is a method of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. Running is a type of gait characterized by an aerial phase in which all feet are above the ground (though there are exceptions). This is ...
. Due to their speedy growth, one plant of each desired mint, along with a little care, will provide more than enough mint for home use. Some mint species are more
invasive Invasive may refer to: *Invasive (medical) procedure *Invasive species *Invasive observation, especially in reference to surveillance *Invasively progressive spread of disease from one organ in the body to another, especially in reference to cancer ...
than others. Even with the less invasive mints, care should be taken when mixing any mint with any other plants, lest the mint take over. To control mints in an open environment, they should be planted in deep, bottomless containers sunk in the ground, or planted above ground in tubs and barrels. Some mints can be propagated by seed, but growth from seed can be an unreliable method for raising mint for two reasons: mint seeds are highly variable — one might not end up with what one supposed was planted — and some mint varieties are sterile. It is more effective to take and plant cuttings from the runners of healthy mints. The most common and popular mints for commercial cultivation are peppermint (''Mentha × piperita''), native spearmint (''Mentha spicata''), Scotch spearmint (''Mentha x gracilis''), and cornmint (''Mentha arvensis''); also (more recently)
apple mint Apple mint is a common name for ''Mentha suaveolens'', and hybrid mints involving ''M. suaveolens'' as a parent Apple mints of hybrid origin include: * ''Mentha × rotundifolia'' (''M. longifolia'' × ''M. suaveolens'') * ''Mentha × villosa'' ('' ...
(''Mentha suaveolens''). Mints are supposed to make good companion plants, repelling pesty insects and attracting beneficial ones. They are susceptible to whitefly and aphids. Harvesting of mint leaves can be done at any time. Fresh leaves should be used immediately or stored up to a few days in plastic bags in a refrigerator. Optionally, leaves can be frozen in ice cube trays. Dried mint leaves should be stored in an airtight container placed in a cool, dark, dry area.


Uses


Culinary

The leaf, fresh or dried, is the culinary source of mint. Fresh mint is usually preferred over dried mint when storage of the mint is not a problem. The leaves have a warm, fresh, aromatic, sweet flavor with a cool aftertaste, and are used in teas, beverages, jellies, syrups, candies, and ice creams. In
Middle Eastern cuisine Middle Eastern cuisine or West Asian cuisine includes Arab, Armenian, Assyrian, Azerbaijani, Cypriot, Egyptian, Georgian, Iranian, Iraqi, Israeli, Kurdish, Lebanese, Palestinian and Turkish cuisines. Common ingredients include olives and ol ...
, mint is used in lamb dishes, while in
British cuisine British cuisine is the specific set of cooking traditions and practices associated with the United Kingdom. Historically, British cuisine meant "unfussy dishes made with quality local ingredients, matched with simple sauces to accentuate flavou ...
and American cuisine, mint sauce and mint jelly are used, respectively. Mint (pudina) is a staple in Indian cuisine, used for flavouring curries and other dishes. Mint is a necessary ingredient in
Touareg tea Maghrebi mint tea (Maghrebi Arabic: , ''atay''; ar, الشاي بالنعناع, aš-šhāy bin-na'nā'; ), also known as Moroccan mint tea and Algerian mint tea, is a North African green tea prepared with spearmint leaves and sugar. It is tr ...
, a popular tea in northern African and Arab countries. Tea in Arab countries is popularly drunk this way. Alcoholic drinks sometimes feature mint for flavor or garnish, such as the mint julep and the mojito. '' Crème de menthe'' is a mint-flavored
liqueur A liqueur (; ; ) is an alcoholic drink composed of spirits (often rectified spirit) and additional flavorings such as sugar, fruits, herbs, and spices. Often served with or after dessert, they are typically heavily sweetened and un-aged beyond ...
used in drinks such as the
grasshopper Grasshoppers are a group of insects belonging to the suborder Caelifera. They are among what is possibly the most ancient living group of chewing herbivorous insects, dating back to the early Triassic around 250 million years ago. Grasshopp ...
. Mint
essential oil An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (easily evaporated at normal temperatures) chemical compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the o ...
and
menthol Menthol is an organic compound, more specifically a monoterpenoid, made synthetically or obtained from the oils of corn mint, peppermint, or other mints. It is a waxy, clear or white crystalline substance, which is solid at room temperature and ...
are extensively used as flavorings in breath fresheners, drinks, antiseptic mouth rinses, toothpaste, chewing gum,
dessert Dessert is a course (food), course that concludes a meal. The course consists of sweet foods, such as confections, and possibly a beverage such as dessert wine and liqueur. In some parts of the world, such as much of Greece and West Africa, and ...
s, and candies, such as mint (candy) and
mint chocolate Mint chocolate (or chocolate mint) is a popular type of chocolate, made by adding a mint flavoring, such as peppermint, spearmint, or crème de menthe, to chocolate. Mint chocolate can be found in a wide variety of edible products, such as cand ...
. The substances that give the mints their characteristic aromas and flavors are menthol (the main aroma of peppermint and Japanese peppermint) and pulegone (in pennyroyal and Corsican mint). The compound primarily responsible for the aroma and flavor of spearmint is L- carvone. Mints are used as food plants by the larvae of some
Lepidoptera Lepidoptera ( ) is an order (biology), order of insects that includes butterfly, butterflies and moths (both are called lepidopterans). About 180,000 species of the Lepidoptera are described, in 126 Family (biology), families and 46 Taxonomic r ...
species, including
buff ermine The buff ermine (''Spilarctia luteum'') is a moth of the family Erebidae. It is sometimes placed in the genus '' Spilosoma''. The species was first described by Johann Siegfried Hufnagel in 1766. It is found throughout the temperate belt of the ...
moths. It is also eaten by beetles such as ''Chrysolina coerulans'' (blue mint beetle) and '' Mint leaf beetle''.


Traditional medicine and cosmetics

The ancient Greeks rubbed mint on their arms, believing it would make them stronger. Mint was originally used as a medicinal herb to treat
stomach ache Abdominal pain, also known as a stomach ache, is a symptom associated with both non-serious and serious medical issues. Common causes of pain in the abdomen include gastroenteritis and irritable bowel syndrome. About 15% of people have a m ...
and
chest pain Chest pain is pain or discomfort in the chest, typically the front of the chest. It may be described as sharp, dull, pressure, heaviness or squeezing. Associated symptoms may include pain in the shoulder, arm, upper abdomen, or jaw, along with n ...
s. There are several uses in traditional medicine and preliminary research for possible use in treating irritable bowel syndrome. Menthol from mint essential oil (40–90%) is an ingredient of many cosmetics and some perfumes. Menthol and mint essential oil are also used in aromatherapy which may have clinical use to alleviate post-surgery nausea.


Allergic reaction

Although it is used in many consumer products, mint may cause allergic reactions in some people, inducing symptoms such as abdominal cramps, diarrhea,
headache Headache is the symptom of pain in the face, head, or neck. It can occur as a migraine, tension-type headache, or cluster headache. There is an increased risk of depression in those with severe headaches. Headaches can occur as a result ...
s, heartburn, tingling or numbing around the mouth, anaphylaxis or contact dermatitis.


Insecticides

Mint oil is also used as an
environmentally friendly Environment friendly processes, or environmental-friendly processes (also referred to as eco-friendly, nature-friendly, and green), are sustainability and marketing terms referring to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies that clai ...
insecticide Insecticides are substances used to kill insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against insect eggs and larvae, respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and by consumers. Insecticides are claimed to b ...
for its ability to kill some common pests such as wasps, hornets, ants, and cockroaches.


Room scent and aromatherapy

Known in Greek mythology as the herb of hospitality, one of mint's first known uses in Europe was as a room deodorizer. The herb was strewn across floors to cover the smell of the hard-packed soil. Stepping on the mint helped to spread its scent through the room. Today, it is more commonly used for aromatherapy through the use of essential oils.


Diseases


Etymology of "mint"

The word "mint" descends from the Latin word ''mentha'' or ''menta'', which is rooted in the Greek words ''mintha'', ''minthē'' or  ''mintē'' meaning " spearmint". The plant was personified in Greek mythology as
Minthe In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, Minthe (also Menthe, Mintha or Mentha; or or ) is an Underworld Naiad nymph associated with the river Cocytus. She was beloved by Hades, the King of the Underworld, and became his mistress, but ...
, a nymph who was beloved by
Hades Hades (; grc-gre, ᾍδης, Háidēs; ), in the ancient Greek religion and myth, is the god of the dead and the king of the underworld, with which his name became synonymous. Hades was the eldest son of Cronus and Rhea, although this also ...
and was transformed into a mint plant by either Persephone or
Demeter In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Demeter (; Attic: ''Dēmḗtēr'' ; Doric: ''Dāmā́tēr'') is the Olympian goddess of the harvest and agriculture, presiding over crops, grains, food, and the fertility of the earth. Although s ...
. This, in turn, ultimately derived from a proto-Indo-European root that is also the origin of the Sanskrit ''-mantha, mathana'' ('' premna serratifolia''). References to "mint leaves", without a qualifier like "peppermint" or "apple mint", generally refer to spearmint leaves. In Spain and
Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...
and South America, mint is known as ''
menta Menta is a sweet mint liqueur prepared from natural ingredients like spearmint oil. It is a refreshing drink popular in Bulgaria in the summertime. It is a component of some cocktails as the traditional "Cloud" (in Bulgarian - Облак) where ...
''. In
Lusophone Lusophones ( pt, Lusófonos) are ethnic group, peoples that speak Portuguese language, Portuguese as a native language, native or as common second language and nations where Portuguese features prominently in society. Comprising an estimated 270 m ...
countries, especially in Portugal, mint species are popularly known as '' hortelã''. In many Indo-Aryan languages, it is called ''pudīna'': hi, पुदीना , sd, ڦُودنو, bn, পুদিনা borrowed from Persian ''pudna'' or ''puna'' meaning " pennyroyal". The taxonomic family Lamiaceae is known as the mint family. It includes many other aromatic herbs, including most of the more common cooking herbs, such as basil, rosemary,
sage Sage or SAGE may refer to: Plants * ''Salvia officinalis'', common sage, a small evergreen subshrub used as a culinary herb ** Lamiaceae, a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint or deadnettle or sage family ** ''Salvia'', a large ...
,
oregano Oregano (, ; ''Origanum vulgare'') is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. It was native to the Mediterranean region, but widely naturalised elsewhere in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. Oregano is a woody perennial pla ...
, and catnip. As an English colloquial term, any small mint-flavored
confectionery Confectionery is the art of making confections, which are food items that are rich in sugar and carbohydrates. Exact definitions are difficult. In general, however, confectionery is divided into two broad and somewhat overlapping categories ...
item can be called a mint. In common usage, other plants with fragrant leaves may be called "mint", although they are not in the mint family: *
Vietnamese mint ''Persicaria odorata'', with common names Vietnamese coriander, rau răm, laksa leaf, Vietnamese cilantro, phak phai, praew leaf, hot mint and Cambodian mint, is an herb with aromatic leaves, used in Southeast Asian and Northeast Indian cooking. ...
, commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisine is ''Persicaria odorata'' in the family Polygonaceae, collectively known as smartweeds or pinkweeds. * Mexican mint marigold is '' Tagetes lucida'' in the sunflower family ( Asteraceae).


Fossil record

†''Mentha pliocenica'' fossil seeds have been excavated in Pliocene deposits of Dvorets on the right bank of the Dnieper river between the cities of Rechitsa and
Loyew Loyew ( be, Ло́еў, Łojeŭ, ; pl, Łojów, russian: Лоев) or Loyev (russian: Ло́ев), ; is a town in the Belarusian province of Homiel and the administrative centre of Loyew Raion. The population is 6,698 (2018). The settlement is ...
, in south-eastern Belarus. The fossil seeds are similar to the seeds of '' Mentha aquatica'' and ''Mentha arvensis''.


References


External links


Flora Europaea: ''Mentha''


*
Preview of ''Mint: The Genus Mentha''
{{Authority control Herbs Indian spices Lamiaceae genera Medicinal plants Stoloniferous plants Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus