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Mentha

See list of 5 species in this genus

A difficult genus complicated by hybridization and polyploidy. Misapplication of names has caused tremendous confusion, and often the names that authors have used actually apply to different species or hybrids (the correct name can sometimes be determined by examining the characters they used to identify the taxa). Many species of Mentha produce small-flowered, carpellate plants in addition to the normal ones with bisexual flowers. The bisexual flowers have exserted stamens at anthesis, the carpellate ones do not. Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. was reported from ME by Gleason and Cronquist (1991), but specimens are unknown. Further, reports of this species are complicated by the fact that usage of this name and its hybrid with M. longifolia ( M. ×‌rotundifolia) are frequently confused. References: Harley (1972), Tucker and Naczi (2007).

  • 1a. Inflorescence consisting largely of verticillasters of flowers in the axils of normal foliage leaves separated by internodes of normal length [Fig. 700]
  • 1b. Inflorescence consisting of congested (at least in part) verticillasters of flowers that are subtended by reduced, bracteal leaves and separated by highly shortened internodes [Fig. 699]

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 Show photos of:   Each photo represents one species in this genus.

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