Mentha arvensis

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Mentha arvensis
Mentha arvensis - poldmunt Keila.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Mentha
Species:
M. arvensis
Binomial name
Mentha arvensis
L.
Synonyms [1]
List
  • Calamintha arvensis(L.) Garsault
  • Mentha agrestisSole
  • Mentha agrestisHegetschw.
  • Mentha agrestrisSole
  • Mentha albae-carolinaeHeinr.Braun
  • Mentha albertiSennen
  • Mentha allioniiBoreau
  • Mentha angustifoliaSchreb.
  • Mentha anomalaHérib.
  • Mentha approximata(Wirtg.) Strail
  • Mentha arenariaTopitz
  • Mentha argutaOpiz
  • Mentha argutissimaBorbás & Heinr.Braun
  • Mentha argutissima var. subpilosaTopitz
  • Mentha arvensis var. caespitosaBoenn.
  • Mentha arvensis var. lanceolataBecker
  • Mentha arvensis var. legitimaBecker
  • Mentha arvensis var. minorBecker
  • Mentha arvensis var. parietariifoliaBecker
  • Mentha arvensis subsp. parietariifolia(Becker) Briq.
  • Mentha arvensis var. parvifloraBoenn.
  • Mentha arvensis var. procumbensBecker
  • Mentha arvensis var. radicansBoenn.
  • Mentha atrovirensHost
  • Mentha austriacaJacq.
  • Mentha badensisJ.Fellm. ex Ledeb.
  • Mentha badensisC.C.Gmel.
  • Mentha baguetianaStrail
  • Mentha barbataOpiz ex Déségl.
  • Mentha bracteolataOpiz ex Déségl.
  • Mentha campestrisSchur
  • Mentha campicolaHeinr.Braun
  • Mentha collinaTopitz
  • Mentha cuneifolia(Lej.) Domin
  • Mentha deflexaDumort.
  • Mentha densifloraOpiz
  • Mentha densifoliataStrail
  • Mentha diffusaLej.
  • Mentha dissitifloraSennen
  • Mentha divaricataHost
  • Mentha divergensTopitz
  • Mentha dubiaSchleich. ex Suter
  • Mentha duffouriiSennen
  • Mentha duftschmidii(Topitz) Trautm.
  • Mentha duftschmidiiTopitz
  • Mentha ehrhartianaLej. & Courtois
  • Mentha exiguaLucé
  • Mentha flagelliferaSchur
  • Mentha flexuosaStrail
  • Mentha floridaTausch ex Heinr.Braun
  • Mentha fochiiSennen
  • Mentha fontanaWeihe ex Strail
  • Mentha fontana var. brevibracteataTopitz & Heinr.Braun
  • Mentha fontana var. confertaTopitz
  • Mentha fontqueriSennen
  • Mentha fossicolaHeinr.Braun
  • Mentha gallica(Topitz) Domin
  • Mentha gentiliformisStrail
  • Mentha gentilisGeorgi
  • Mentha gracilescensOpiz ex Strail
  • Mentha graveolensOpiz
  • Mentha hillebrandtiiOrtmann ex Malinv.
  • Mentha hostiiBoreau
  • Mentha hostii var. arvinaTopitz
  • Mentha intermediaNees ex Bluff & Fingerh.
  • Mentha joffreiSennen
  • Mentha kitaibelianaHeinr.Braun ex Haring
  • Mentha lamiifoliaHost
  • Mentha lanceolataBenth.
  • Mentha lapponicaWahlenb.
  • Mentha lataOpiz ex Déségl.
  • Mentha latifoliaHost
  • Mentha latissimaSchur
  • Mentha laxaHost
  • Mentha longibracteataHeinr.Braun
  • Mentha maculataHost
  • Mentha melissifoliaHost
  • Mentha minorOpiz ex Déségl.
  • Mentha moenchiiPérard
  • Mentha mosanaLej. & Courtois
  • Mentha multifloraHost
  • Mentha multiflora var. serpentinaTopitz
  • Mentha mutabilis(Topitz) Domin
  • Mentha nemorosaHost
  • Mentha nemorumBoreau
  • Mentha nobilisWeihe ex Fingerh.
  • Mentha nummulariaSchreb.
  • Mentha obtusataOpiz
  • Mentha obtusodentata(Topitz) Domin
  • Mentha ocymoidesHost
  • Mentha odorataOpiz ex Déségl.
  • Mentha origanifoliaHost
  • Mentha ovataSchur
  • Mentha palitzensisTopitz
  • Mentha paludosaNees ex Bluff & Fingerh.
  • Mentha palustrisMoench
  • Mentha parvifoliaOpiz
  • Mentha parvulaTopitz
  • Mentha pascuorum(Topitz) Trautm.
  • Mentha pastorisSennen
  • Mentha piersianaBorbás
  • Mentha pilosaSpreng. ex Wallr.
  • Mentha pilosellaPérard
  • Mentha plagensisTopitz
  • Mentha plicataOpiz
  • Mentha polymorphaHost
  • Mentha praeclaraTopitz
  • Mentha praecoxSole
  • Mentha praticolaOpiz
  • Mentha procumbensThuill.
  • Mentha prostrataHost
  • Mentha pulchellaHost
  • Mentha pulegiformisHeinr.Braun
  • Mentha pumilaHost
  • Mentha rigidaStrail
  • Mentha rothiiNees ex Bluff & Fingerh.
  • Mentha rotundataOpiz
  • Mentha ruderalisTopitz
  • Mentha salebrosaBoreau
  • Mentha sativaRoxb.
  • Mentha schreberiPérard
  • Mentha scrophulariifoliaLej. & Courtois
  • Mentha segetalisOpiz
  • Mentha silvicolaHeinr.Braun
  • Mentha simplexHost
  • Mentha slichoviensisOpiz
  • Mentha sparsifloraHeinr.Braun
  • Mentha sparsiflora var. pascuorumTopitz
  • Mentha subcollinaTopitz
  • Mentha subcordataColla ex Lamotte
  • Mentha subfontaneaTopitz
  • Mentha subinodoraSchur
  • Mentha sylvaticaHost
  • Mentha tenuicaulisStrail
  • Mentha tenuifoliaHost
  • Mentha thayanaHeinr.Braun
  • Mentha uliginosaStrail
  • Mentha vanhaesendonckiiStrail
  • Mentha variansHost
  • Mentha verisimilisStrail
  • Mentha villosaBecker
  • Mentha viridulaHost

Mentha arvensis, the corn mint, field mint, or wild mint, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. It has a circumboreal distribution, being native to the temperate regions of Europe and western and central Asia, east to the Himalaya and eastern Siberia, and North America. [2] [3] [4] Mentha canadensis , the related species, is also included in Mentha arvensis by some authors as two varieties, M. arvensis var. glabrata Fernald (North American plants such as American Wild Mint) and M. arvensis var. piperascens Malinv. ex L. H. Bailey (eastern Asian plants such as Japanese mint). [5] [6]

Contents

It grows in moist places, especially along streams. [7]

Description

Wild mint is a herbaceous perennial plant generally growing to 10–60 cm (4–24 in) and rarely up to 100 cm (40 in) tall. It has a creeping rootstock from which grow erect or semi-sprawling squarish stems.

The leaves are in opposite pairs, simple, 2–6.5 cm (342+12 in) long and 1–2 cm (1234 in) broad, hairy, and with a coarsely serrated margin.

The flowers are pale purple (occasionally white or pink), in whorls on the stem at the bases of the leaves. Each flower is 3 to 4 mm (18 to 532 in) long and has a five-lobed hairy calyx, a four-lobed corolla with the uppermost lobe larger than the others and four stamens. The fruit is a two-chambered carpel. [4] [8] [9] [10]

Subspecies

Subspecies include: [2]

The related species Mentha canadensis is also included in M. arvensis by some authors as two varieties, M. arvensis var. glabrata Fernald (in reference to North American plants) and M. arvensis var. piperascens Malinv. ex L. H. Bailey (in reference to eastern Asian plants). [5] [12]

Uses

The leaves have been made into tea to treat colds or aid digestion. [13] They can also be eaten raw. [14]

Chemical substances that can be extracted from wild mint include menthol, menthone, isomenthone, neomenthol, limonene, methyl acetate, piperitone, beta-caryophyllene, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, tannins and flavonoids. [15] [16] Mint extracts and menthol-related chemicals are used in food, drinks, cough medicines, creams and cigarettes. [16] Menthol is widely used in dental care, as a mouthwash potentially inhibiting streptococci and lactobacilli bacteria. [17]

Diseases

Two main diseases that can significantly damage Japanese mint (M. arvensis var. piperascens) and its yield are the rust fungus and the mildew attacks. [18] Mildew attacks usually only occur on the west coast of United States where the weather can be foggy and humid, a condition that attracts mildew. Rust fungus is a disease that is common for most of the Mentha plants such as peppermint and spearmint. These diseases are flagged due to the improbability of controlling once it starts in a mint farm. They are typically cut immediately when discovered to help reduce the probability of contaminating the rest of the plant leaves. [18]

Related Research Articles

<i>Mentha</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae

Mentha is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae. The exact distinction between species is unclear; it is estimated that 13 to 24 species exist. Hybridization occurs naturally where some species' ranges overlap. Many hybrids and cultivars are known.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peppermint</span> Hybrid flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae

Peppermint is a hybrid species of mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint. Indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, the plant is now widely spread and cultivated in many regions of the world. It is occasionally found in the wild with its parent species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spearmint</span> Species of mint

Spearmint, a species of mint (mentha) scientifically classified as Mentha spicata (,) also known as garden mint, common mint, lamb mint and mackerel mint, is native to Europe and southern temperate Asia, extending from Ireland in the west to southern China in the east. It is naturalized in many other temperate parts of the world, including northern and southern Africa, North America, and South America. It is used as a flavouring in food and herbal teas. The aromatic oil, called oil of spearmint, is also used as a flavoring and sometimes as a scent.

<i>Heracleum maximum</i> Species of flowering plant

Heracleum maximum, commonly known as cow parsnip, is the only member of the genus Heracleum native to North America. It is also known as American cow-parsnip, Satan celery, Indian celery, Indian rhubarb, poison turnip or pushki.

<i>Mentha aquatica</i> Species of flowering plant

Mentha aquatica is a perennial flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. It grows in moist places and is native to much of Europe, northwest Africa and southwest Asia.

<i>Mentha suaveolens</i> Species of flowering plant

Mentha suaveolens, the apple mint, pineapple mint, woolly mint or round-leafed mint, is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae. It is native to southern and western Europe including the Mediterranean region. It is a herbaceous, upright perennial plant that is most commonly grown as a culinary herb or for ground cover.

<i>Mentha longifolia</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae

Mentha longifolia, also known as horse mint, brookmint, fillymint or St. John's horsemint, is a species of plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to Europe excluding Britain and Ireland, western and central Asia, and northern and southern Africa.

<i>Viola canadensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Viola canadensis is a flowering plant in the Violaceae family. It is commonly known as Canadian white violet, Canada violet, tall white violet, or white violet. It is widespread across much of Canada and the United States, from Alaska to Newfoundland, south as far as Georgia and Arizona. It is a perennial herb and the Latin-specific epithet canadensis means of Canada.

<i>Hieracium umbellatum</i> Species of flowering plant

Hieracium umbellatum, the Canadian hawkweed, Canada hawkweed, narrowleaf hawkweed, or northern hawkweed, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.

<i>Rhamphospermum arvense</i> Species of plant

Rhamphospermum arvense, the charlock mustard, field mustard, wild mustard, or just charlock, is an annual or winter annual plant in the family Brassicaceae. It is found in the fields of North Africa, Asia, Europe, and some other areas where it has been transported and naturalized. Pieris rapae, the small white butterfly, and Pieris napi, the green veined white butterfly, are significant consumers of charlock during their larval stages.

<i>Monarda fistulosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Monarda fistulosa, the wild bergamot or bee balm, is a wildflower in the mint family Lamiaceae, widespread and abundant as a native plant in much of North America. This plant, with showy summer-blooming pink to lavender flowers, is often used as a honey plant, medicinal plant, and garden ornamental. The species is quite variable, and several subspecies or varieties have been recognized within it.

<i>Mentha canadensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Mentha canadensis is a species of mint native to North America and the eastern part of Asia. In North America, it is commonly known as Canada mint, American wild mint, and in Asia as Chinese mint, Sakhalin mint, Japanese mint, and East Asian wild mint. The flowers are bluish or have a slight violet tint. The plant is upright, growing to about 4–18 in (10–46 cm) tall. Leaves grow opposite from each other, and flower bunches appear in the upper leaf axils. The mint grows in wet areas but not directly in water, so it will be found near sloughs, and lake and river edges. Plants bloom from July to August in their native habitats.

<i>Mentha longifolia <span style="font-style:normal;">var.</span> asiatica</i> Variety of flowering plant

Mentha longifolia var. asiatica is known by the common name Asian mint. It is a variety of the mint species Mentha longifolia. It has also been treated as the separate species, Mentha asiatica and Mentha vagans.

<i>Micromeria</i> Genus of flowering plants

Micromeria is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, widespread across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America, with a center of diversity in the Mediterranean region and the Canary Islands. It is sometimes placed within the genus Satureja. The name is derived from the Greek words μῑκρος (mīkros), meaning "small," and μερίς (meris), meaning "portion," referring to the leaves and flowers. Common names include savory and whitweed.

<i>Salix geyeriana</i> Species of willow

Salix geyeriana is a species of willow known by the common names Geyer's willow, Geyer willow and silver willow. The type specimen was collected by the botanist Karl Andreas Geyer, for whom it was named. Its conspicuous, yellow flowers begin to bloom as early as March, to as late as the end of June.

<i>Stachys recta</i> Species of flowering plant

Stachys recta, commonly known as stiff hedgenettle or perennial yellow-woundwort, is herbaceous perennial plant of the family Lamiaceae.

<i>Clinopodium menthifolium</i> Species of flowering plant

Clinopodium menthifolium, commonly known as the wood calamint or woodland calamint, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is found throughout southern and central Europe from the United Kingdom and east as far as temperate parts of Asia, and as south as North Africa. It grows up to 1,700 m (5,600 ft) in elevation.

<i>Mentha gattefossei</i> Species of mint

Mentha gattefossei is a plant species in the genus Mentha, endemic to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. It was first described by French botanist René Maire in 1922. Harvested for its essential oil, M. gattefossei has seen use in traditional medicine, pest control and as a food seasoning.

Mentha japonica is a plant species in the genus Mentha, endemic to the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu, Japan. Initially described as Micromeria japonica by Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel, it was first identified under its present name by Japanese botanist Tomitaro Makino in 1906. A relatively rare plant, it is classified by the Japanese Ministry of Environment as a Near Threatened species.

References

  1. "Mentha arvensis L." Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2017. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Mentha arvensis". Euro+Med Plantbase Project. Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem. 2010. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011.
  3. "Mentha arvensis". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  4. 1 2 Stace, C. (11 March 2008). van der Meijden, R.; de Kort, I. (eds.). "Mentha arvensis L." Flora of NW Europe. Archived from the original on 11 March 2008.
  5. 1 2 "Mentha canadensis". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 18 December 2017.
  6. Quattrocchi, Umberto (1947). CRC World dictionary of plant names: Common names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synyonyms, and Etymology. Vol. III M-Q. CRC Press. p. 1659.
  7. "Mentha arvensis". Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The University of Texas at Austin. 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  8. Blamey, M.; Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. ISBN   0-340-40170-2.
  9. Huxley, A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan. ISBN   0-333-47494-5..
  10. "Corn mint: Mentha arvensis". NatureGate. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  11. "Mentha sachalinensis in Flora of China". Flora of China (series) Vol 17. p. 237. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-06-19. Mentha sachalinensis (Briquet ex Miyabe & Miyake) Kudô, J. Coll. Sci. Imp. Univ. Tokyo. 43(10): 47. 1921. 东北薄荷 dong bei bo he.
  12. Quattrocchi, Umberto (1947). CRC World dictionary of plant names: Common names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synyonyms, and Etymology. Vol. III M-Q. CRC Press. p. 1659.
  13. Fagan, Damian (2019). Wildflowers of Oregon: A Field Guide to Over 400 Wildflowers, Trees, and Shrubs of the Coast, Cascades, and High Desert. Guilford, CT: FalconGuides. p. 53. ISBN   978-1-4930-3633-2. OCLC   1073035766.
  14. Benoliel, Doug (2011). Northwest Foraging: The Classic Guide to Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest (Rev. and updated ed.). Seattle, WA: Skipstone. p. 80. ISBN   978-1-59485-366-1. OCLC   668195076.
  15. Shaikh, Mosma Nadim; Suryawanshi, Yogesh Chandrakant; Mokat, Digambar Nabhu (4 March 2019). "Volatile Profiling and Essential Oil Yield of Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf Treated with Rhizosphere Fungi and Some Important Fertilizers". Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants. 22 (2): 477-483. doi:10.1080/0972060X.2019.1613933. S2CID   191177588.
  16. 1 2 Maria Kostka-Rokosz; Yelena Yalli; Lana Dvorkin; Julia Whelan. "Mentha Arvensis Piperascens". Boston Healing Landscape Project. Boston University School of Medicine. Archived from the original on 2015-03-19. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  17. Freires IA, Denny C, Benso B, de Alencar SM, Rosalen PL (22 April 2015). "Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oils and Their Isolated Constituents against Cariogenic Bacteria: A Systematic Review". Molecules. 20 (4): 7329–7358. doi: 10.3390/molecules20047329 . PMC   6272492 . PMID   25911964.
  18. 1 2 Sievers, A. F., & Lowman, M. S. (1933). Commercial possibilities of Japanese mint in the United States as a source of natural menthol (No. 378). US Dept. of Agriculture.