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Peppermint |
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| Nomenclature |
Species name: |
Mentha pulegium L. |
Author(s): |
Carl von Linné;
Sweden, 1707-1778
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Synonyms: |
Pulegium vulgare, Melissa pulegium, Mentha aromatica, Mentha aucheri, Mentha daghestanica, Mentha gibraltarica, Mentha tomentella, Mentha tomentosa |
Common names: |
Peppermint, European Pennyroyal, Pennyroyal minth |
Maltese names: |
Plejju |
Plant Family: |
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Status: |
Native |
Name Derivation: | Mentha = A name for an unfortunate Greek nymph named Minthe who got herself turned into a mint plant, and a genus of culinary herbs named after her, this is one of the oldest plant names still in use. Further Info: [1], [2]. (Greek origin)
pulegium = From the Latin word 'pulex', which means a flea-repellant. (Latin origin) |
Remarks: |
-
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| Specifications & Description |
Life Cycle: | Perennial |
Habitat: | Valley bottoms, damp shady places, cultivated or waste places near dams or watercourses. |
Frequency: | Common |
Localities in Malta: | Frequent such as in Chadwick Lakes, Wied Encita and Wied tal-Mistra. |
Plant Height: | 15-40cm. |
| Apr - Aug |
Poison: | Data not available |
An
plant
that
has
a
particular
and
distinguishable
peppermint-like
odour
(for
some
pungent,
for
others
acceptable)
that
is
given
off
especially
during
the
flowering
time;
an
odour
typically
present
at
several
valley
bottoms
or
water
courses.
The
plant
is
perennial
thanks
to
the
all-year
living
underground
creeping
rhizomes.
It
forms
procumbent
to
ascending,
hairy
stems,
with
flowering
stalks
always
being
upright.
In
autumn,
aerial
rootlets
are
formed
from
stems
lying
on
wet
ground.
When
these
roots
establish
in
the
soil,
the
new
'daughter
plant'
gets
independent
from
the
mother
plant,
hence
giving
rise
to
a
form
of
asexual
reproduction.
This
propagation
method
is
common
in
several
mint
plants,
including
some
cultivated
spice
herbs.
The
leaves
are
found
in
opposite
decussate
pairs
that
are
subsessile
when
young,
and
becomes
shortly
petiolated
later
on.
They
have
oval
or
spindle
shaped
leaves,
often
with
a
smooth
margin
(sometimes
with
3-6
small
teeth
on
each
edge).
They
are
shortly
and
sparsely
haired
below.
Bracts
leaf-like
but
smaller.
The
inflorescence
consists
of
a
dense,
multi-flowered
verticillasters,
forming
a
sub-spherical
structure
of
radiating
flowers
around
the
flowering
stalk.
The
inflorescence
clusters
are
found
spaced
at
regular
intervals
along
the
flowering
stalk,
with
the
lower
cluster
being
slightly
wider
from
the
younger
above.
This
forms
an
interesting
flower
stalk
with
several
globular
clusters
of
violet
flowers
gradually
becoming
smaller
in
size
towards
the
tip.
Each
flower
consists
of
a
tubular,
toothed
calyx
and
a
small,
2-lipped,
violet-lilac
corolla
with
a
white
throat
(centre).
The
calyx
is
2-3mm
long,
nearly
actinomorphic
and
composed
of
5
ciliated
teeth,
with
the
upper
one
being
shorter
and
broader
while
the
lower
one
is
longer
and
narrower.
The
5-6mm
long
corolla
consists
of
2
lips,
with
the
lower
one
further
subdivided
into
3
lobes,
each
being
identical
to
each
other
and
to
the
upper
lip,
hence
giving
a
general
appearance
that
the
corolla
consists
of
4
small
petals
rather
than
a
2-lipped
morphology.
Corolla
tube
shorter
from
calyx
with
lobes
being
conspicuously
ciliated.
The
flower's
male
reproductive
organs
consists
of
4
stamens
that
are
firm,
divergent
and
protruding
out
from
the
corolla.
They
have
thin,
white
filaments
and
small,
lilac-purple
anthers.
The
female
part
is
a
central
pistil
with
a
small
ovary
hidden
at
the
base
of
the
calyx
and
a
white
style
as
long
as
the
stamens.
Stigma
divided
into
2
parts
with
swollen
tips.
The
fruit
is
composed
of
4,
small
( <
1mm),
brown
nutlets
sheltered
inside
the
calyx,
which
when
ripe,
they
become
loose
and
fall
off
without
any
special
means
of
dispersion.
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