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Native Plant Trust: Go Botany Discover thousands of New England plants

Mentha spicata — spearmint

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New England distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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North America distribution

Adapted from BONAP data

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Facts

Widely introduced throughout the north temperate zones, spearmint is easily identified by its distinctive odor. The essential oils are used for flavoring foods, and the plant is used in traditional medicine to treat fevers, headaches, digestive disorders and various minor ailments.

Habitat

Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), meadows and fields, shores of rivers or lakes

Characteristics

Habitat
  • terrestrial
  • wetlands
New England state
  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont
Flower petal color
  • blue to purple
  • pink to red
  • white
Leaf type
the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
Leaf arrangement
opposite: there are two leaves per node along the stem
Leaf blade edges
the edge of the leaf blade has teeth
Flower symmetry
  • there are two or more ways to evenly divide the flower (the flower is radially symmetrical)
  • there is only one way to evenly divide the flower (the flower is bilaterally symmetrical)
Number of sepals, petals or tepals
  • there are five petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower
  • there are four petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower
Fusion of sepals and petals
the petals or the sepals are fused into a cup or tube
Stamen number
4
Fruit type (general)
the fruit is dry but does not split open when ripe
Show all characteristics

  • Clonal plantlets

    Bulbils
    the plant does not appear to have bulbils
    Bulblets replace flowers
    there are no bulblets where the flowers are located

  • Flowers

    Anther length
    0.38–0.52 mm
    Anther opening
    the anthers have narrow slits or furrows that run lengthwise along the anthers
    Calyx symmetry
    there are two or more ways to evenly divide the calyx (the calyx is radially symmetrical)
    Carpel hairs
    the carpels have no hairs
    Carpels fused
    the carpels are fused to one another
    Cleistogamous flowers
    there are no cleistogamous flowers on the plan
    Corolla palate
    no
    Corona lobe length
    0 mm
    Epicalyx
    the flower does not have an epicalyx
    Epicalyx number of parts
    0
    Filament surface
    the filament is smooth, with no hairs or scales
    Flower description
    the flower has a superior ovary, and lacks a hypanthium
    Flower petal color
    • blue to purple
    • pink to red
    • white
    Flower reproductive parts
    • the flower has both pollen- and seed-producing parts
    • the flower has either only pollen- or only seed-producing parts
    Flower symmetry
    • there are two or more ways to evenly divide the flower (the flower is radially symmetrical)
    • there is only one way to evenly divide the flower (the flower is bilaterally symmetrical)
    Flowers sunken into stem
    no
    Form of style
    the style is lobed at the tip, and unbranched
    Fused stamen clusters
    NA
    Fusion of sepals and petals
    the petals or the sepals are fused into a cup or tube
    Horns in hoods (Asclepias)
    NA
    Hypanthium
    the flower does not have a hypanthium
    Hypanthium length
    0 mm
    Inflorescence length
    40–100 mm
    Inflorescence one-sided
    the flowers are arrayed in a spiral around the inflorescence axis or branches, or occur singly, or in several ranks
    Inflorescence width
    5–15 mm
    Inner tepals (Rumex)
    NA
    Interior flower disk
    the flower has an interior disc
    Length of flower stalk
    2 mm
    Marks on petals
    • the petals have spots or streaks on them
    • there are no noticeable marks on the petals
    Nectar spur
    the flower has no nectar spurs
    Number of branches in umbel
    0
    Number of carpels
    2
    Number of sepals, petals or tepals
    • there are five petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower
    • there are four petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower
    Number of styles
    1
    Ovary position
    the ovary is above the point of petal and/or sepal attachment
    Perianth shape
    the perianth is funnelform (funnel-shaped)
    Petal and sepal arrangement
    the flower includes two cycles of petal- or sepal-like structures
    Petal and sepal colors
    • blue to purple
    • pink to red
    • white
    Petal appearance
    the petals are thin and delicate, and pigmented (colored other than green or brown)
    Petal folds or pleats
    the petals of the flower do not have folds or plaits
    Petal hairs (Viola)
    NA
    Petal hairs on inner/upper surface
    there are no hairs on the inner/upper petal surface
    Petal length
    2–4 mm
    Petal number
    4
    Petal tips (Cuscuta)
    NA
    Raceme attachment (Veronica)
    NA
    Scales inside corolla
    no
    Sepal and petal color
    the sepals are different from the petals
    Sepal appearance
    the sepals are green or brown, and leaf-like in texture
    Sepal appendages
    the sepals do not have appendages on them
    Sepal appendages (Oenothera)
    NA
    Sepal color
    • blue to purple
    • green to brown
    • pink to red
    Sepal length
    1–3 mm
    Sepal number
    5
    Sepal relative length
    the sepal lobes are approximately the same length as the fused portion
    Sepal shape
    • the sepal outline is lanceolate (lance-shaped; narrow, gradually tapering from the base to the tip)
    • the sepal outline is roughly triangular
    Sepal uniformity
    all the sepals are about the same size
    Sepals fused only to sepals
    the sepals are fused to each other (not other flower parts), at least near their bases
    Spur length
    0 mm
    Spur number
    NA
    Stamen attachment
    the stamens are not attached to the petals or tepals
    Stamen morphology
    • the stamens within a cycle differ in length or width
    • the stamens within each cycle are the same
    Stamen number
    4
    Stamen relative length
    • anything
    • anything
    Stamens fused
    the stamens are not attached to one another
    Staminodes
    there are no staminodes on the flower
    Umbel flower reproductive parts
    NA
    Upper lip of bilabiate corolla
    • NA
    • the upper lip of the bilabiate corolla has one lobe
    • the upper lip of the bilabiate corolla has two lobes

  • Fruits or seeds

    Achene relative orientation
    NA
    Achene shape
    NA
    Achene surface (Polygonum)
    NA
    Achene type
    NA
    Berry color
    NA
    Capsule color (Viola)
    NA
    Capsule ribs
    NA
    Capsule splitting
    NA
    Fruit (pyxis) dehiscence
    NA
    Fruit beak length
    0 mm
    Fruit features (Brassicaceae)
    NA
    Fruit locules
    four
    Fruit type (general)
    the fruit is dry but does not split open when ripe
    Fruit type (specific)
    the fruit is a schizocarp (when dry it splits into sections, each holding one or more seeds)
    Legumes (Fabaceae)
    NA
    Mericarp length
    0.74–0.94 mm
    Mericarp segment shape (Desmodium)
    NA
    Other markings on berry
    NA
    Ovary stipe
    the ovary or fruit does not have a stipe
    Placenta arrangement
    the plant has axile placentation, in which the ovules are attached where the septa of a compound ovary are united, usually on the central axis, or to the septa themselves
    Rows of seeds in fruit (Brassicaceae)
    NA
    Schizocarpic fruit compression
    the fruit is not flattened
    Schizocarpic fruit segments
    4
    Seed number
    2
    Septum in fruit (Brassicaceae)
    NA
    Wings on fruit
    the fruit does not have wings on it
    prickles on fruits
    the fruits do not have thorn-like defensive structures

  • Glands or sap

    Glands on leaf blade
    the leaf blades have glandular dots or scales
    Sap
    the sap is clear and watery
    Sap color
    the sap is clear

  • Growth form

    Growth form
    the plant is an herb (it has self-supporting stems)
    Horizontal rooting stem
    the plant has stolons
    Lifespan
    the plant lives more than two years
    Parasitism
    the plant is not parasitic
    Plant color
    the leaves or young stems of the plant are green
    Spines on plant
    the plant has no spines
    Underground organs
    the plant has a rhizome (a horizontal underground stem with roots growing from it)

  • Leaves

    Bracteole length
    5–8 mm
    Bracteole number (Apiaceae)
    0
    Bracteoles
    the plant has bracteoles between the primary bracts and the flowers
    Bracts in plantain (Plantago)
    NA
    Final leaf segment length (compound lvs only)
    0 mm
    Final leaf segment length to width ratio (compound lvs only)
    0
    Final leaf segment width (compound lvs only)
    0 mm
    Floral bracts
    the flower has one or more bracts associated with it
    Hairs on underside of leaf
    • the underside of the leaf is fuzzy or hairy
    • the underside of the leaf is not hairy, or it has very few hairs
    Hairs on upper side of leaf
    the upper side of the leaf is not hairy, or it has very few hairs
    Hooked hairs on underside of leaf
    no
    Inflated hairs on leaf
    the leaf blade does not have inflated hairs on it
    Leaf arrangement
    opposite: there are two leaves per node along the stem
    Leaf blade base
    • the leaf has a distinct leaf stalk (petiole)
    • the leaf has no stalk
    Leaf blade base shape
    • the base of the leaf blade is cuneate (wedge-shaped, tapers to the base with relatively straight, converging edges), or narrow
    • the base of the leaf blade is rounded
    Leaf blade base symmetry
    the leaf blade base is symmetrical
    Leaf blade bloom
    the underside of the leaf has no noticeable bloom
    Leaf blade edges
    the edge of the leaf blade has teeth
    Leaf blade flatness
    the leaf is flat (planar) at the edges
    Leaf blade hairs
    the leaf blade has simple hairs with no glands, and not tangled or wooly
    Leaf blade length
    30–90 mm
    Leaf blade primary vein pattern
    the secondary veins branch off at intervals from the primary vein
    Leaf blade shape
    • the leaf blade is lanceolate (lance-shaped; widest below the middle and tapering at both ends)
    • the leaf blade is ovate (widest below the middle and broadly tapering at both ends)
    Leaf blade surface colors
    the upper side of the leaf blade is relatively uniform in color
    Leaf blade texture
    the leaf blade is herbaceous (has a leafy texture)
    Leaf blade vein pattern
    the major veins of the leaf blade branch, but do not rejoin
    Leaf blade veins
    the leaf blade has one main vein running from the base towards the tip (it may or may not have secondary veins)
    Leaf blade width
    7–30 mm
    Leaf duration
    the leaves drop off in winter (or they whither but persist on the plant)
    Leaf form
    the leaves are green, with an expanded blade and a leaf-like texture
    Leaf hair orientation
    the hairs are standing up straight or curved in different directions
    Leaf shiny
    the upper side of the leaf is dull or slightly shiny
    Leaf spines
    there are no spines on the leaf edges
    Leaf stalk
    • the leaves have leaf stalks
    • the leaves have no leaf stalks, but attach directly to the stem
    Leaf stalk attachment to leaf
    the petiole attaches at the basal margin of the leaf blade
    Leaf stalk length
    Up to 1 mm
    Leaf teeth and lobes
    the leaf blade margin has forward-pointing teeth
    Leaf tip
    the tip of the leaf blade is acute (sharply pointed)
    Leaf type
    the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
    Leaf variation
    the leaves are nearly similar in size, prominence of teeth, and length of stalks throughout the stem
    Leaflet number
    0
    Leaflet petiolules
    NA
    Leaves per node
    there are two leaves per node along the stem
    Pinnately compound leaf type
    NA
    Specific leaf type
    the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)
    Stipels
    NA
    Stipule edges
    NA
    Stipule features
    NA
    Stipule fused to leaf stalk
    NA
    Stipule length
    0 mm
    Stipule shape
    NA
    Stipules
    there are no stipules on the plant

  • Place

    Habitat
    • terrestrial
    • wetlands
    New England state
    • Connecticut
    • Maine
    • Massachusetts
    • New Hampshire
    • Rhode Island
    • Vermont
    Specific habitat
    • man-made or disturbed habitats
    • meadows or fields
    • shores of rivers or lakes

  • Scent

    Plant odor
    the plant has a pleasant smell, for example anise, fruit, mint or resin

  • Stem, shoot, branch

    Branched tendrils
    NA
    Direction of stem hairs
    NA
    Flowering stem cross-section
    the flowering stem is roughly square
    Hair between stem nodes
    the stem has no hairs between the nodes
    Hairs between stem nodes
    the stem has no hairs between the nodes
    Hooked hairs on stem between nodes
    no
    Leaves on stem
    there is at least one full leaf above the base of the flowering stem
    Length of hairs between stem nodes
    0 mm
    Plant height
    30–100 cm
    Stem bloom
    there is no powdery or waxy film on the stem
    Stem hair distribution
    NA
    Stem nodes swollen
    the stem is not swollen at the nodes
    Stem orientation
    the stems are upright or angled outwards
    Stem roughness between nodes
    the stem does not feel rough
    Stem succulence
    the stems are not succulent
    Tendril origin
    NA
    Tendrils
    the plant does not have tendrils
    Wings on stem
    the stem does not have wings on it

Wetland status

Usually occurs in wetlands, but occasionally in non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACW)

New England distribution and conservation status

Distribution

Connecticut
present
Maine
present
Massachusetts
present
New Hampshire
present
Rhode Island
present
Vermont
present

Conservation status

Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.

ssp. spicata

Massachusetts
not applicable (S-rank: SNA)

Native to North America?

No

Sometimes confused with

Mentha aquatica:
flowers in 2 or 3 very closely spaced mostly 15-25 mm tall (vs. M. spicata, with flowers in 4-19 somewhat closely spaced clusters mostly 40-100 mm tall).
Mentha canadensis:
cycles of flowers well-spaced and all but the very upper ones subtended by normal foliage leaves (vs. M. spicata, with cycles of flowers closely spaced and subtended by reduced, bract-like leaves).

Synonyms

  • Mentha viridis (L.) L.

Family

Lamiaceae

Genus

Mentha

Notes on subspecies and varieties in New England

Our subspecies is Mentha spicata L. ssp. spicata.

Help

From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae

5. Mentha spicata L. ssp. spicata E

spearmint. Mentha viridis (L.) L. • CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT. Roadsides, ditches, wet fields, shorelines. Mentha spicata is thought to be an allopolyploid derived from M. longifolia and M. suaveolens (Harley 1972). It shows variation in leaf blade dimensions, prominence of leaf veins, and pubes­cence. Rare plants of M. spicata show short, broad, and rugose leaf blades. These plants, which are transitional to M. suaveolens, are best identified by examination of anthers and fruits ( M. suaveolens has pollen-bearing anthers 0.28–0.38 mm long and mericarps 0.57–0.75 mm long).

5×M. suaveolens Ehrh. Mentha ×‌villosa Huds. nothovar. alopecuroides (Hull) Briq. is a morphologically variable, sterile mint hybrid known from CT, MA, ME, NH, VT. It is most similar to M. suaveolens, especially in leaf blade shape and indument characters (i.e., leaf blades ovate to suborbicular, 1–2 times as long as wide, pubescent and rugose-veiny abaxially) but tends to be more robust, standing 60–140 cm tall (vs. 40–100 cm), with a thicker inflorescence (10–)12–15 mm wide (vs. 5–10 mm), larger leaf blades 40–80 × 30–60 mm (vs. (15–) 30–45 × (10–)20–40 mm), a pink corolla (vs. white or pink), and has a spearmint odor as inM. spicata (rather than sweet fruit odor).

1×5. Mentha aquatica × Mentha spicata → Mentha ×‌piperita L. is an infrequent mint hybrid known from CT, MA, ME, >NH, RI, VT. It most closely resembles M. aquatica. The hybrid has a relatively dense, obloid inflorescence (25–) 45–80 ×12–20 mm, calyx with pubescence only on the lobes 
(i.e., the basal, connate portion is glabrous), usually glabrous pedicels, and the abaxial leaf blade surface is glabrous or with hairs along only the main veins (vs. basal, 
connate portion of the calyx pubescent, pedicels pubescent, and abaxial leaf blade surface sparsely to densely pubescent in M. aquatica var. aquatica). Further, M. ×‌piperita is sterile and the fresh plants have a peppermint odor (vs. fertile and fresh plants with lavender or citrus odor in M. aquatica var. aquatica). From M. aquatica var. citrata it is separated by its pubescent calyx lobes and lanceolate to narrow-ovate leaf blades that are acute at the apex (vs. glabrous calyx lobes and ovate leaf blades that are obtuse 
at the apex in M. aquatica var. citrata).

2×5. Mentha arvensis × Mentha spicata → Mentha ×‌gracilis Sole is an infrequent mint hybrid known from CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT. It has an inflorescence somewhat similar to Mentha canadensis in that the lower verticillasters of flowers are subtended by scarcely reduced leaves; however, the bracts become more highly reduced and the inflorescence often becomes somewhat congested in the upper 2 or 3 verticillasters. It differs in that the calyx is 2–3.5 mm long, with lobes 0.8–1.2 mm long, with a glabrous basal, connate portion, the fresh plants with usually spearmint odor, and the plants are sterile (vs. calyx 2–3 mm long, with lobes mostly 0.7–0.9 mm long, with a pubescent basal, connate portion, fresh plants with spearmint or pennyroyal odor, and plants fertile in M. canadensis). Further, the hybrids are often tinged with red. This plant has long gone by the names M. gentilis and M. cardiaca. The former name applies to a species (see above) and the latter name is a superfluous synonym of this hybrid.

5×M. suaveolens. Mentha spicata × Mentha suaveolens → Mentha ×villosa Huds. nothovar. alopecuroides (Hull) Briq. is a morphologically variable, sterile mint hybrid known from CT, MA, NH, VT. It is most similar to M. suaveolens, especially in leaf blade shape and indument characters (i.e., leaf blades ovate to suborbicular, 1–2 times as long as wide, pubescent and rugose-veiny abaxially) but tends to be more robust, standing 60–140 cm tall (vs. 40–100 cm), with a thicker inflorescence 12–15 mm wide (vs. 5–10 mm wide), larger leaf blades 40–80 × 30–60 mm (vs. (15–) 30–45 × (10–) 20–40 mm), a pink corolla (vs. white or pink), and has a spearmint odor as in M. spicata (rather than sweet fruit odor). This hybrid is very difficult to distinguish from M. ×rotundifolia. The former has a canescent calyx, usually no fertile anthers, leaf blades cuneate at the base, and corolla 3–4 mm long, whereas the latter has a ciliate calyx, 4 fertile anthers, leaf blades cuneate to truncate, and corolla 2.5–3.5 mm long.