Mentha

Mentha
Mentha × piperita (Peppermint)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Lamiales
Family:	Lamiaceae
Subfamily:	Nepetoideae
Tribe:	Mentheae
Genus:	Mentha L.
Type species
Mentha spicata L.
Synonyms[1]
Pulegium Mill. Preslia Opiz Audibertia Benth. Menthella Pérard Minthe St.-Lag.

Mentha, also known as mint (from

The genus has a subcosmopolitan distribution, growing best in wet environments and moist soils.

Mints are aromatic, almost exclusively

The flowers are produced in long bracts from leaf axils.^[10] 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.

Mentha is a member of the tribe Mentheae in the subfamily Nepetoideae. The tribe contains about 65 genera, and relationships within it remain obscure.^[4] 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.^[11] In 2004, a molecular phylogenetic study indicated that both M. cervina and M. cunninghamii should be included in Mentha.^[5] However, M. cunninghamii was excluded in a 2007 treatment of the genus.^[11]

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 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.^[11] Recent sources recognize between 18^[11] and 24^[1] species.^[12]

As of December 2020^[update], Plants of the World Online recognized the following species:^[1]

There are a number of plants that have mint in the common English name but which do not belong to the genus Mentha:^[13][14][15]

• Agastache sp. – known as horse mints
• Calamintha
  sp. (syn. Clinopodium) – known as calamints
• Clinopodium acinos (syn. Acinos arvensis) – known as backle mint
• Elsholtzia ciliata – known as comb mint, crested late summer mint
• Melissa officinalis
  – known as balm mint
• Nepeta sp. – known as cat mint or catnip
• Origanum sp. – known as rock mint
• Persicaria odorata – known as Vietnamese mint
• Sideritis montana – known as sider mint

The mint genus has a large grouping of recognized hybrids. Those accepted by Plants of the World Online are listed below.^[1] Parent species are taken from Tucker & Naczi (2007).^[11] 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. - M. longifolia × M. spicata × M. suaveolens
• Mentha × gracilis Sole (syn. Mentha × gentilis) - M. arvensis × M. spicata – ginger mint, Scotch spearmint
• Mentha × kuemmerlei Trautm. - M. aquatica × M. spicata × M. suaveolens
• Mentha × locyana Borbás - M. longifolia × M. verticillata
• Mentha × piperita L. - M. aquatica × M. spicata – peppermint, chocolate mint
• Mentha × pyramidalis Ten. - M. aquatica × M. microphylla
• Mentha × rotundifolia (L.) Huds. - M. longifolia × M. suaveolens – false apple mint
• Mentha × suavis Guss. (syn. Mentha × amblardii,^[16] Mentha × lamiifolia,^[17] Mentha × langii,^[18] Mentha × mauponii,^[19] Mentha × maximilianea,^[20] Mentha × rodriguezii,^[21] Mentha × weissenburgensis^[22]) - M. aquatica × M. suaveolens^[23]
• Mentha × verticillata L. - M. aquatica × M. arvensis
• Mentha × villosa Huds. (syn. M. nemorosa) - M. spicata × M. suaveolens – 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

There are hundreds of common English names for species and cultivars of Mentha. These include:

• Apple mint - Mentha suaveolens and Mentha × rotundifolia
• Banana mint - Mentha arvensis 'Banana'
• Bowles mint - Mentha villosa and Mentha × villosa 'Alopecuroides'
• Canada mint - Mentha canadensis
• Chocolate mint - Mentha × piperita 'Chocolate'
• Corsican mint - Mentha requienii
• Cuba mint - Mentha × villosa
• Curly mint - Mentha spicata 'Curly'
• Eau de Cologne mint - Mentha × piperita 'Citrata'
• Field mint - Mentha arvensis
• Flea mint - Mentha requienii
• Ginger mint - Mentha × gracilis
• Gray mint - Mentha longifolia
• Green mint - Mentha spicata
• Grey mint - Mentha longifolia
• Japanese peppermint - Mentha arvensis var. piperascens
• Japanese mint or Japanese medicine mint - Mentha spicata 'Abura'
• Kiwi mint - Mentha cunninghamii
• Lemon mint - Mentha × piperita var. citrata and Mentha × gentilis
• Marsh mint - Mentha aquatica
• Meadow mint - Mentha × gracilis and Mentha arvensis
• Mojito mint - Mentha spicata 'Mojito'
• Moroccan mint - Mentha spicata var. crispa 'Moroccan' and mints collected in Morocco
• Pennyroyal - Mentha pulegium
• Peppermint - Mentha × piperita and sometimes Mentha requienii
• Pineapple mint - Mentha suaveolens 'Variegata' and Mentha suaveolens 'Pineapple'
• Polemint - Mentha pulegium
• Red raripila mint - Mentha × wirtgeniana
• Round leaf mint - Mentha suaveolens
• Spearmint - Mentha spicata
• Strawberry mint - Mentha × piperita 'Strawberry'
• Swiss mint - Mentha × piperita 'Swiss'
• Tall mint - Mentha × wirtgeniana
• Tea mint - Mentha × verticillata
• Toothmint - Mentha × smithiana
• Water mint - Mentha aquatica
• Woolly mint - Mentha × rotundifolia

The genus has a subcosmopolitan distribution across Europe, Africa – (Southern Africa), Asia, Australia – Oceania, North America and South America.^[9][24] Its species can be found in many environments, but most grow best in wet environments and moist soils.

Mints are used as food by the larvae of some

All mints thrive near pools of water, lakes, rivers, and cool moist spots in partial shade.^[28] In general, mints tolerate a wide range of conditions, and can also be grown in full sun. Mint grows all year round.^[29]

They are fast-growing, extending their reach along surfaces through a network of

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 (i.e. one might not end up with what was supposedly planted)[28] 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

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.[31]

This section may lack focus or may be about more than one topic. In particular, it treats the genus Mentha ("mint") as if it were a single kind of plant, whereas many of the uses apply only to one species or cultivated variety of the genus. Please help improve this article, possibly by splitting the section. There might be further discussion about this on the talk page. (July 2019)

, used for flavouring curries and other dishes.

Mint is a necessary ingredient in

Touareg tea, a popular tea in northern African and Arab countries. 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 used in drinks such as the grasshopper

.

Mint

antiseptic mouth rinses, toothpaste, chewing gum, desserts, and candies, such as mint (candy) and mint chocolate. 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

.

Traditional medicine and cosmetics

The

ancient Greeks rubbed mint on their arms, believing it would make them stronger.^[33] Mint was originally used as a medicinal herb to treat stomach ache and chest pains.^[34] There are several uses in traditional medicine^[35] and preliminary research for possible use of peppermint in treating irritable bowel syndrome.^[34]

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.^[34][36]

Allergic reaction

Although it is used in many

abdominal cramps, diarrhea, headaches, heartburn, tingling or numbing around the mouth, anaphylaxis, or contact dermatitis.^[34][37]

Insecticides

Mint oil is also used as an environmentally friendly insecticide for its ability to kill some common pests such as wasps, hornets, ants, and cockroaches.^[38]

Room scent and aromatherapy

Known in Greek mythology as the herb of hospitality,^[39] one of mint's first known uses in Europe was as a room deodorizer.^[40] 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.

Etymology of "mint"

The word "mint" descends from the

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

Hindi: पुदीना , Sindhi: ڦُودنو, Bengali: পুদিনা borrowed from Persian پودنه pudna or پونه puna meaning "pennyroyal".^[42]

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

sage, oregano, and catnip

.

As an English colloquial term, any small mint-flavored confectionery item can be called a mint.^[43]

In common usage, other plants with fragrant leaves may be called "mint", although they are not in the mint family:

• Vietnamese mint, 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

Rechitsa and Loyew, in south-eastern Belarus. The fossil seeds are similar to the seeds of Mentha aquatica and Mentha arvensis.^[44]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Mentha L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Archived from the original on 6 March 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
2. ^
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3. ^ Palaeolexicon Archived 2011-02-03 at the Wayback Machine, Word study tool of ancient languages
4. ^
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5. ^
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6. S2CID 97042181. Archived from the original
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11. ^
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12. ^ "Mentha — the Plant List".
13. ^ "Myntsorter".
14. ^ "Mynte | lex.dk". 10 November 2022.
15. ^ "Mint | Description, Genus, Species, Uses, & Facts | Encyclopædia Britannica". 21 July 2023.
16. ^ "Mentha × amblardii Debeaux | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science".
17. ^ "Mentha × lamiifolia Ten. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science".
18. ^ "Mentha × langii Steud. Ex Hagenb. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science".
19. ^ "Mentha × mauponii Gadeceau | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science".
20. ^ "Mentha × maximilianea F.W.Schultz | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science".
21. ^ "Mentha × rodriguezii Malinv. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science".
22. ^ "Mentha × weissenburgensis F.W.Schultz | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science".
23. ^ "Mentha × suavis Guss. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science".
24. ^ "Mint | Description, Genus, Species, Uses, & Facts | Britannica". 21 July 2023.
25. ^ "Blue Mint Beetle, Chrysolina coerulans". candide gardening.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
26. ^ Rosenberg, Marc (20 August 2012). "Watch out for blue mint beetle". amateurgardening.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
27. ^ "Mint leaf beetle". gardenersworld.com. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
28. ^
    ISBN 978-0-87857-999-0
    .
29. ^ "Minted". 12 August 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-08-31. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
30. ^ Wees, David (4 March 2015) [first published online 8 April 2013]. "Mint, Economic Importance". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
31. ISBN 978-1-56458-065-8
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32. ^
    ISBN 978-0-470-42 135-2
    .
33. ISBN 0415927463
    .
34. ^ ^{a b c d} "Peppermint oil". National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, US National Institutes of Health. 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-10-08. Retrieved 2014-10-11.
35. PMID 24685583
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36. S2CID 207134623
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37. PMID 24472564
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38. ^ Bounds, Gwendolyn (30 July 2009). "Death by Mint Oil: Natural Pesticides". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2 August 2009. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
39. ^ "Mint". South Texas Unit of The Herb Society of America. Archived from the original on 2013-06-29. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
40. ^ Huntington, Sharon J. (18 May 2004). "A not-so-boring history of flooring". The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on 2013-05-12. Retrieved 2013-07-14.
41. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879). "menta (mentha)". A Latin Dictionary. Perseus Digital Library.
42. ^ Mohammadifar, Shamameh (2022) [1 January 2000]. "Mint". Encyclopaedia Iranica (online ed.). Encyclopaedia Iranica Foundation. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
43. ISBN 978-0-19-211579-9
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44. ^ Velichkevich, Felix Yu.; Zastawniak, Ewa (2003). "The Pliocene flora of Kholmech, south-eastern Belarus and its correlation with other Pliocene floras of Europe". Acta Palaeobotanica. 43 (2): 137–259. Retrieved 16 July 2019.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mentha.

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Mint (plant)".

• Flora Europaea: Mentha
• Botanical.com entry on Mint
• "Mentha species PFAF Plant Database". Plants for a future.
• Preview of Mint: The Genus Mentha