''Acanthomintha'' 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 ...

. The genus ''Acanthomintha'' is commonly referred to as thornmint or thorn-mint. There are four species within this genus, including the

endangered species An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...

Acanthomintha duttonii ''Acanthomintha duttonii'' is a species of annual plant endemic to San Mateo County, California in the family Lamiaceae. It is commonly called San Mateo thornmint and is found growing on serpentine soils near the Crystal Springs Reservoir in a ...

''. All four thornmints are native to the California Floristic Province. The origin of the genus name is from the identical Greek word meaning ''thornmint''. The four known species of ''Acanthomintha'' are:Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
/ref> *''

'' (Abrams) Jokerst: San Mateo thorn-mint – San Mateo County *''

Acanthomintha ilicifolia ''Acanthomintha ilicifolia'', known by the common name San Diego thornmint, is a rare species of flowering plant in the mint family. It is native to Baja California and San Diego County, California, where it is a resident of the chaparral and c ...

'' A.Gray: San Diego thorn-mint, San Diego thornmint – San Diego County and northern Baja California *'' Acanthomintha lanceolata'' Curran: Santa Clara thorn-mint – inner Coast Ranges from Alameda County to San Luis Obispo County *'' Acanthomintha obovata'' Jepson: San Benito thorn-mint – range from Alameda County to Los Angeles County

Genus morphology

All thornmints are aromatic annual wildflowers with erect stems and petioled leaves. Inflorescences of thornmints are head-like, in clusters and terminal in form. In the genus ''Acanthomintha'' leaf veins are conspicuous and the leaf margins are always spiny, leading to the common name. The characteristics of the genus flower are with a two-lipped

calyx Calyx or calyce (plural "calyces"), from the Latin ''calix'' which itself comes from the Ancient Greek ''κάλυξ'' (''kálux'') meaning "husk" or "pod", may refer to: Biology * Calyx (anatomy), collective name for several cup-like structures ...

and lobes spine-tipped, re-inforcing the basis of the common name. All ''Acanthomintha'' have the upper three lobes of its calyx acuminate and the lower two lobes oblong in shape. ''Acanthomintha''

corolla Corolla may refer to: *Corolla (botany), the petals of a flower, considered as a unit *Toyota Corolla, an automobile model name * Corolla (headgear), an ancient headdress in the form of a circlet or crown * ''Corolla'' (gastropod), a genus of moll ...

e are funnel shaped, always white, but sometimes with a tinging of rose or lavender color. The corolla throat is cream colored and its upper lip is hooded, while the longer lower lip is reflexed and three-lobed. All ''Acanthomintha'' have four

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s, with the upper two reduced, whether they are sterile or not. Thornmint styles are slender and their fruit is

ovoid An oval () is a closed curve in a plane which resembles the outline of an egg. The term is not very specific, but in some areas (projective geometry, technical drawing, etc.) it is given a more precise definition, which may include either one or ...

in shape with smooth exterior texture.

References

External links

Thornmint taxonomy

USDA Plants Profile
Lamiaceae genera Taxa named by Asa Gray {{Lamiaceae-stub