Green mint

Green mint
	Spearmint ( Mentha spicata )
Systematics
Order :	Mint family (Lamiales)
Family :	Mint family (Lamiaceae)
Tribe :	Mentheae
Sub tribus :	Menthinae
Genre :	Mints ( mentha )
Type :	Green mint
Scientific name
	Mentha spicata
	L.

The spearmint ( Mentha spicata ), also spiked mint , spearmint or spear mint (engl. Spearmint ), is a species within the family of the Lamiaceae (Labiatae).

description

Appearance and leaf

The spearmint grows as a perennial , herbaceous plant with heights of 30 to 130 centimeters. It forms subterranean runners and has a pleasant aromatic smell. The taste is sweeter than that of peppermint and it lacks the sharpness of menthol , of which spearmint contains little. The upright, square, green to reddish stems usually branch in the upper area and are bare to almost bare.

The opposite constantly disposed on the stem leaves are sessile or pedunculated up to 2 millimeters at the leaf base and glandular . The simple , almost bare leaf blade is ovoid-elongated to narrow-lanceolate with a length of 2 to 7 centimeters and a width of 0.5 to 2 centimeters with a heart-shaped, rounded or broadly wedge-shaped base and a pointed to long, pointed tip . The edge of the spread is sawed irregularly.

Inflorescence, flower and fruit

The flowering period extends from July to September. The flower stalks are about 2 millimeters long. The flowers are arranged in multi-flowered pseudo whorls. They are in terminal, interrupted at the base, with a length of 4 to 10 centimeters, cylindrical, spike-like inflorescences . The 5 to 8 millimeters long, linear bracts are shorter or the same length as the flowers.

The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic and five-fold with a double flower envelope . The five unequal, 1.5 to 2 millimeters long, glandular sepals are fused bell-shaped and either hairless or ciliate at the calyx tips. The more or less uniform, triangular-lanceolate calyx lobes are about 1 millimeter long. The five white, pale pink to violet petals form the approximately 2.5 to 4 millimeters long, hairless crown and are fused into an approximately two millimeter long corolla tube. The almost uniform corolla lobes have an edged tip. The four stamens of equal length protrude from the crown.

The spearmint forms dark brown clauses .

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 36, 48 or 84.

Location and distribution

Spearmint is widespread in Europe , North Africa , Western Asia , the Caucasus region , Central Asian Turkmenistan , Pakistan , Nepal and China . The original European distribution stretches from the Central European states of Switzerland , Slovenia and Croatia across Southeastern Europe with the Mediterranean islands to Cyprus and from Italy with Sicily and Sardinia to the Spanish Balearic island of Mallorca . In addition, it is widespread in Europe and North America as a neophyte and has also been widely cultivated and naturalized around the world. The spearmint colonizes nutrient-rich herbaceous and weed meadows in Germany . In Austria it is more or less often cultivated and occasionally grows wild.

Spearmint ( Mentha spicata )

Systematics

The first publication of Mentha spicata was made in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum , Volume 2, p 578th

Spearmint is an octoploid species and possibly arose from a hybridization of Mentha longifolia and Mentha suaveolens . It is one of the parent species of the peppermint ( Mentha × piperita ).

Of Mentha spicata two subspecies are recognized:

Mentha spicata L. subsp. spicata (Syn .: Mentha atrata Schur , Mentha balsamea Rchb. nom. illeg., Mentha brevispicata Lehm. , Mentha cordato-ovata Opiz , Mentha crispa L. , Mentha crispata Schrad. ex Willd. , Mentha glabra Mill. , Mentha hortensis Opiz ex Fresen. , Mentha inarimensis Guss. , Mentha integerrima Mattei & Lojac. , Mentha lacerata Opiz , Mentha laciniosa Schur , Mentha laevigata Willd. , Mentha lejeuneana Opiz , Mentha lejeunii Opiz ex Rchb. , Mentha michelii Ten. ex Rchbiodora . , Mentha ocymora Opiz , Mentha pectinata Raf. , Mentha piperella (Lej. & Courtois) Opiz ex Lej. & Courtois , Mentha pudina Buch.-Ham. Ex Benth. , Mentha romana Bubani , Mentha rosanii Ten. , Mentha rubicunda Heinr.Braun & Topitz , Mentha sepincola Holuby , Mentha tauschii Heinr.Braun , Mentha tenuiflora Opiz , Mentha tenuifolia Opiz ex Rchb. , Mentha tenuis Michx. , Mentha undulata Willd. , Mentha viridifolia Pérard , Mentha viridis (L.) L. , Mentha walteriana Opiz , Mentha longifolia subsp. undulata (Willd.) Briq. , Mentha lo ngifolia subsp. viridis (L.) Rouy , Mentha spicata subsp. glabrata (Lej. & Courtois) Lebeau , Mentha viridis subsp. angustifolia (Lej. & Courtois) Briq. , Mentha viridis subsp. crispata (Schrad. ex Willd.) Briq. , Mentha viridis subsp. euryphylla Briq. , Mentha viridis subsp. exquisita Briq. , Mentha viridis subsp. inarimensis (cast.) Nyman , Mentha viridis subsp. malinvaldii Agasse ex Briq. Mentha aquatica var. Crispa (L.) Benth. , Mentha crispata var. Lacerata (Opiz) Heinr.Braun , Mentha longifolia var. Crispata (Schrad. Ex Willd.) Rouy , Mentha longifolia var. Piperella (Lej. & Courtois) Rouy , Mentha mollissima var. Undulata (Willd.) Heinr .Braun , Mentha rubicunda var. Langiana Topitz , Mentha spicata var. Oblongifolia (Wimm. & Grab.) Lebeau , Mentha spicata var. Undulata (Willd.) Lebeau , Mentha spicata var. Viridis L. , Mentha sylvestris var. Crispata W. DJKoch , Mentha sylvestris var. Glabra W.DJKoch , Mentha sylvestris var. Glabrata Benth. , Mentha sylvestris var. Oblongifolia Wimm. & Dig. , Mentha viridis var. Allodonta Topitz , Mentha viridis var. Angustifolia Lej. & Courtois , Mentha viridis var. Cordato-ovata (Opiz) Heinr.Braun , Mentha viridis var. Crispa Benth. , Mentha viridis var. Crispata (Schrad. Ex Willd.) Becker , Mentha viridis var. Exquisita Briq. , Mentha viridis var. Glabrata Lej. & Courtois , Mentha viridis var. Holotilta Briq. , Mentha viridis var. Hortensis Wirtg. , Mentha viridis var. Jaccardii Briq. , Mentha viridis var. Lacerata (Opiz) Heinr.Braun , Mentha viridis var. Laetivridis Topitz , Mentha viridis var. Laevigata (Willd.) Lamotte , Mentha viridis var. Lampreilema Briq. , Mentha viridis var. Lejeuneana (Opiz) Heinr.Braun , Mentha viridis var. Macrostemma Lej. & Courtois , Mentha viridis var. Maderensis Briq. , Mentha viridis var. Malinvaldii (Agasse ex Briq.) Briq. , Mentha viridis var. Ocymiodora (Opiz) Lej. & Courtois , Mentha viridis var. Oligotricha Briq. , Mentha viridis var. Phaneroneura Briq. , Mentha viridis var. Phyllopogon Briq. , Mentha viridis var. Piperella Lej. & Courtois , Mentha viridis var. Sinuosa Topitz , Mentha viridis var. Spadana Briq. , Mentha viridis var. Stenophyllon Topitz , Mentha viridis var. Tauscheri Topitz , Mentha viridis var. Tenuiflora (Opiz) Briq. , Mentha viridis var. Tenuis (Michx.) Briq. , Mentha viridis var. Walteriana (Opiz) Topitz )
Mentha spicata subsp. condensata (Briq.) Greuter & Burdet (Syn .: Mentha tomentosa subsp. condensata Briq. , Mentha microphylla var. condensata (Briq.) Briq. , Mentha chalepensis Mill. , Mentha derelicta Déségl ., Mentha microphylla K. Koch , Mentha sofiana Trautm. , Mentha subsessilis Borbás , Mentha tomentosa d'Urv. nom. illeg., Mentha Sofiana subsp. kickxiifolia Trautm. , Mentha spicata subsp. tomentosa Harley , Mentha tomentosa subsp. glareosa Briq. , Mentha microphylla var. glareosa (Briq.) Briq. , Mentha sylvestris var. Stenostachya Boiss. ): The homeland is in the south and south-east of Europe with Italy, the former Yugoslavia , Bulgaria , Albania , Greece including Crete , Cyprus and western Turkey . She is a neophyte in New Zealand .

use

Structural formula of ( R ) - (-) - carvone, main component of spearmint oil .

Spearmint is one of the best-known types of mint and the basis for numerous industrial products such as toothpaste, chewing gum ( spearmint ) and sweets. The dried tips and leaves are used medicinally as stimulants as well as wind-blowing and nerve- tonic agents. Spearmint contains carvones from the group of monocyclic monoterpenes (e.g. ( R ) - (-) - carvone ), which are used as a component of essential oils . Especially in North Africa and the Middle East, where there are numerous varieties of spearmint, it is important in the kitchen (→ nano mint ). Mostly it is used to prepare teas, to season sauces and as a garnish.

According to the implementation regulation (EU) No. 540/2011, spearmint can also be used as a growth regulator in organic farming.

literature

Xi-wen Li & Ian C. Hedge: Lamiaceae . Mentha. In: Wu Zheng-yi, Peter H. Raven (ed.): Verbenaceae through Solanaceae (= Flora of China ). Volume 17. Science Press et al. a., Beijing et al. a., ISBN 0-915279-24-X , Mentha spicata , p. 238 ( online section description, text identical to the printed work).
IC Hedge: Labiatae . Mentha . In: SIAli & M.Qaiser (eds.): Flora of Pakistan . Volume 192, January 1, 2001, Mentha spicata , p. 264 ( online section description, text identical to the printed work).
Jelitto, Schacht, Simon: The free-range - ornamental perennials. Volume 2, p. 612, Ulmer, 2002, ISBN 3-8001-3265-6 .
Erich Götz: Identify plants with the computer. 2001, ISBN 3-8252-8168-X .
Avril Rodway: Herbs and Spices. The most useful plants in nature - culture and use. Tessloff Verlag, Hamburg 1980, ISBN 3-7886-9910-8 .

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Mentha spicata in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
^ Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . With the collaboration of Angelika Schwabe and Theo Müller. 8th, heavily revised and expanded edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 , pp. 817 .
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Rafaël Govaerts (ed.): Mentha spicata. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved July 6, 2014.
↑ ^a ^b ^c Details for: Mentha spicata L. In: The Euro + Med Plantbase Project. Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, July 24, 2010, accessed on July 6, 2014 (English).
↑ Spearmint. In: FloraWeb.de. Retrieved September 24, 2011
^ ^A ^b ^c Manfred A. Fischer, Karl Oswald, Wolfgang Adler: Excursion flora for Austria, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol . 3rd, improved edition. Province of Upper Austria, Biology Center of the Upper Austrian State Museums, Linz 2008, ISBN 978-3-85474-187-9 , p. 800 .
↑ Carl von Linné: Species Plantarum . 1st edition. 2nd volume. Stockholm 1753, p. 576 ( scanned at Biodiversity Heritage Library - Mentha spicata ).

Web links

Commons : Spearmint album with pictures, videos and audio files

Mentha spicata L., spearmint. In: FloraWeb.de.
Spearmint . In: BiolFlor, the database of biological-ecological characteristics of the flora of Germany.
Mentha spicata L. In: Info Flora , the national data and information center for Swiss flora . Retrieved February 27, 2016.
Distribution in the northern hemisphere
Thomas Meyer: Mint data sheet with identification key and photos at Flora-de: Flora von Deutschland (old name of the website: Flowers in Swabia )

[GRIN-1] Mentha spicata in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved July 6, 2014.

[Oberdorfer2001-2] Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas . With the collaboration of Angelika Schwabe and Theo Müller. 8th, heavily revised and expanded edition. Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart (Hohenheim) 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 , pp. 817 .

[WCSP-3] Rafaël Govaerts (ed.): Mentha spicata. In: World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) - The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved July 6, 2014.

[Euro+Med-4] Details for: Mentha spicata L. In: The Euro + Med Plantbase Project. Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem, July 24, 2010, accessed on July 6, 2014 (English).

[Floraweb-5] Spearmint. In: FloraWeb.de. Retrieved September 24, 2011

[ExkursionsfloraA2008-6] A ^b ^c Manfred A. Fischer, Karl Oswald, Wolfgang Adler: Excursion flora for Austria, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol . 3rd, improved edition. Province of Upper Austria, Biology Center of the Upper Austrian State Museums, Linz 2008, ISBN 978-3-85474-187-9 , p. 800 .

[SpPla-7] Carl von Linné: Species Plantarum . 1st edition. 2nd volume. Stockholm 1753, p. 576 ( scanned at Biodiversity Heritage Library - Mentha spicata ).