Spearmint, a species of mint (mentha) scientifically classified as Mentha spicata (,[6][7]) also known as garden mint, common mint, lamb mint and mackerel mint,[8][9] is native to Europe and southern temperate Asia, extending from Ireland in the west to southern China in the east.[10] It is naturalized in many other temperate parts of the world, including northern and southern Africa, North America, and South America.[11][12] 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.
Quick Facts Conservation status, Scientific classification ...
Spearmint |
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Scientific classification |
Kingdom: |
Plantae |
Clade: |
Tracheophytes |
Clade: |
Angiosperms |
Clade: |
Eudicots |
Clade: |
Asterids |
Order: |
Lamiales |
Family: |
Lamiaceae |
Genus: |
Mentha |
Species: |
M. spicata |
Binomial name |
Mentha spicata
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Synonyms |
(of M. spicata subsp. condensata)[4]
- Mentha chalepensis Mill.
- Mentha microphylla K.Koch
- Mentha sieberi K.Koch
- Mentha sofiana Trautm.
- Mentha spicata subsp. tomentosa Harley
- Mentha stenostachya (Boiss.) Nevski
- Mentha subsessilis Borbás
- Mentha tomentosa d'Urv.
(of M. spicata subsp. spicata)[5]
- Mentha aquatica var. crispa (L.) Benth.
- Mentha aquatica subsp. crispa (L.) G.Mey.
- Mentha atrata Schur
- Mentha balsamea Rchb.
- Mentha brevispicata Lehm.
- Mentha crispa L.
- Mentha crispata Schrad. ex Willd.
- Mentha glabra Mill.
- Mentha hortensis Opiz ex Fresen.
- Mentha inarimensis Guss.
- Mentha integerrima Mattei & Lojac.
- Mentha laciniosa Schur
- Mentha laevigata Willd.
- Mentha lejeuneana Opiz
- Mentha lejeunei Opiz ex Rchb.
- Mentha michelii Ten. ex Rchb.
- Mentha ocymiodora Opiz
- Mentha pectinata Raf.
- Mentha piperella (Lej.) Opiz ex Lej. & Courtois
- Mentha × piperita var. crispa (L.) W.D.J.Koch
- Mentha pudina Buch.-Ham. ex Benth.
- Mentha romana Bubani
- Mentha romana Garsault
- Mentha rosanii Ten.
- Mentha rubicunda var. langiana Topitz
- Mentha sepincola Holuby
- Mentha spicata var. cordato-ovata Schinz & Thell.
- Mentha spicata var. crispa Ridd.
- Mentha spicata var. crispata (Schrad. ex Willd.) Schinz & Thell.
- Mentha spicata subsp. glabrata (Lej. & Courtois) Lebeau
- Mentha spicata var. oblongifolia (Wimm. & Grab.) Lebeau
- Mentha spicata var. piperella (Lej. & Courtois) Schinz & Thell.
- Mentha spicata var. undulata (Willd.) Lebeau
- Mentha spicata var. viridis L.
- Mentha sylvestris var. crispata W.D.J.Koch
- Mentha sylvestris var. glabra W.D.J.Koch
- Mentha sylvestris var. undulata (Willd.) W.D.J.Koch
- Mentha tauschii Heinr.Braun
- Mentha tenuiflora Opiz
- Mentha tenuis Michx.
- Mentha undulata Willd.
- Mentha viridifolia Pérard
- Mentha viridis (L.) L.
- Mentha viridis var. angustifolia Lej. ex Rchb.
- Mentha viridis var. crispa Benth.
- Mentha viridis var. crispata (Schrad. ex Willd.) Becker
- Mentha walteriana Opiz
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Close
The species and its subspecies have many synonyms, including Mentha crispa, Mentha crispata, and Mentha viridis.