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LAMIACEAE (Labiatae) MINT FAMILY

Dieter H. Wilken & Margriet Wetherwax, family description, key to genera

Annual to shrub [ tree, vine], glabrous to hairy, generally aromatic.
Stem: generally erect, generally 4-angled.
Leaf: generally simple to deeply lobed, generally opposite, generally gland-dotted.
Inflorescence: generally cymes, generally many in dense axillary clusters surrounding stem, generally separated by evident internodes or collectively crowded, spike- or panicle-like, occasionally head-like or raceme, subtended by leaves or bracts; flowers sessile or pedicelled.
Flower: generally bisexual; calyx generally 5-lobed, radial to bilateral; corolla generally bilateral, 1–2-lipped, upper lip entire or 2-lobed, ± flat to hood-like, occasionally 0, lower lip generally 3-lobed; stamens generally 4, epipetalous, generally exserted, paired, pairs generally unequal, occasionally 2, staminodes 2 or 0; ovary superior, generally 4-lobed to base chambers 2, ovules 2 per chamber, style 1, generally arising from center at junction of lobes, stigmas generally 2.
Fruit: generally 4 nutlets, generally ovoid to oblong, smooth.
± 230 genera, 7200 species: worldwide. Many cultivated for herbs, oils (Lavandula, lavender; Mentha, mint; Rosmarinus, rosemary; Thymus, thyme), some cult as ornamental (in CA Cedronella, Leonotis, Monarda, Phlomis). [Harley et al. 2004 Fam Generally Vasc Plant 7:167–275] Moluccella laevis L., shell flower, historical waif in CA. Satureja calamintha (L.) Scheele subsp. ascendens (Jordan) Briq. reported as alien but not naturalized. Salazaria moved to Scutellaria; CA Satureja moved to Clinopodium. —Scientific Editors: Douglas H. Goldman, Bruce G. Baldwin.

Key to Lamiaceae

MENTHA MINT

Arthur O. Tucker

Perennial from rhizomes, glabrous to hairy.
Stem: generally ascending to erect, generally branched.
Leaf: petioled to sessile; blade elliptic to ovate or lanceolate, toothed to lobed.
Inflorescence: head-like in leaf axils or collectively spike- or panicle-like and subtended by bracts.
Flower: calyx ± radial, generally 10-veined, lobes 4–5, equal or not; corolla ± 2-lipped, lips generally equal, upper lip notched, lower lip 3-lobed; stamens 4, ± equal, generally exserted, filaments glabrous, anthers segments parallel, distinct.
Fruit: nutlets ± ellipsoid, tip rounded.
18 species: temperate. North America, Eurasia. (Latin: ancient name for mint) [Tucker et al. 1980 Taxon 29:233–255] Cult for oils, flavoring, herbs. Hybrids in CA generally sterile, spreading from rhizomes.
Unabridged note: Many cultivated and naturalized populations derived from hybridization, generally polyploid, some sterile, reproducing vegetatively.

Key to Mentha

M. longifolia (L.) L.
NATURALIZED

Stem: 3–10 dm, canescent.
Leaf: 1.5–4(7) cm; petiole 0–2 mm; blade lance- oblong, generally serrate, base tapered, tip acute.
Inflorescence: spike-like, bracts subtending flower clusters ovate to lance- linear.
Flower: calyx 1–2 mm, generally canescent; corolla 2–3 mm, white to pink or violet.
2n=24. Moist places, fields; < 300 m. South Coast, Transverse Ranges, cultivated elsewhere; to Canada, e United States; native to Eurasia, Africa, naturalized from cultivation. Jul–Oct [Online Interchange]

Previous taxon: Mentha × gracilis
Next taxon: Mentha × piperita

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Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) [year] Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html [accessed on month, day, year]
Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on [month, day, year].

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Bioregions in which taxon occursRed area (if present) is the part of the bioregion lying between the upper and lower elevation limits of the taxon;
markers link to CCH specimen records. If the markers are obscured, reload the page [or change window size and reload]. Yellow markers indicate records that may have georeferencing or identification issues.
map of distribution 1

Chart based on elevation range in Manual and elevations and coordinates of CCH records.
Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria.
Note: About half of the CCH records include both elevation and coordinates.
Map made in collaboration with Scott Loarie. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria.
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CCH collections by month

Duplicates counted once; synonyms included.
Species do not include records of infraspecific taxa.
Blue line denotes Manual flowering time.