MENTHA LONGIFOLIA

Family and Genus:- See- LABIATAE/Sect. MENTHA/M. SPICATA Group

Common Names:- Horse mint

Homotypic Synonyms:- Mentha spicata var. longifolia, Mentha spicata subsp.

longifolia.

Meaning:- Mentha (Gr) A name used by Pliny for mint.

Longifolia (L) with long leaves.

General description:- Rhizomatous perennial with musty or pungent scent..

Stem:-

1) 40-120 cm., white- or grey-villous, sometimes sparsely hairy.

Leaves:-

1) Sessile, usually 3-9 cm, broadly lanceolate to oblong-elliptical, acute, sharply

serrate, greenish above, grey-tomentose beneath with simple hairs only.

2) Floral leaves, much smaller than the cauline.

Flower:-

1) Verticillasters, many, usually congested, forming a terminal, usually branched

spike 40-100 x (9-)10-15 mm.

2) Calyx, (1-)1·5-3 mm, narrowly campanulate, pubescent, teeth subequal.

3) Pedicels, hairy.

4) Corolla, lilac or white.

5) Fertile anthers, 0·28-0·38 mm.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets, 0·54-0·79 mm.

Key features:-

1) Leaves, (30-)50-90(-110) mm, branched hairs absent, or if present usually few

beneath; widest near the middle.

2) Hairs, all simple.

3) Fertile anthers, 0·28-0·38 mm.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Damp habitats, streams, ditches, cultivated and waste land. 0-1200 m.

Distribution:- Scattered throughout Greece. A widespread Euro-Siberian species,

naturalised elsewhere. Limited occurrence on Crete, mainly in the west, sporadic

elsewhere.

Flowering time:- Apr-Sept.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton