LAMIACEAE

MINT FAMILY

Dieter H. Wilken, except as specifed

Annual, perennial herb, shrub, glabrous to hairy, generally aromatic
Stems generally erect, generally 4-angled
Leaves generally simple to deeply lobed, opposite, generally gland-dotted
Inflorescence: cyme, generally clustered around stem, head-like, separated by evident internodes (terminal in Monardella ) or collectively crowded, spike-like to panicle-like (sometimes raceme or flowers 2–12); 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, sometimes 0, lower lip generally 3-lobed; stamens generally 4, generally exserted, paired, pairs unequal, sometimes 2, staminodes 2 or 0; ovary superior, generally 4-lobed to base, chambers 2, ovules 2 per chamber, style 1, arising from center at junction of lobes, stigmas generally 2
Fruit: nutlets 4, generally ovoid to oblong, smooth
Genera in family: ± 200 genera, 5500 species: worldwide. Many cultivated for herbs, oils (Lavandula , lavender; Mentha , mint; Ocimum , basil; Rosmarinus , rosemary; Thymus , thyme), some cultivated as ornamental (in CA Cedronella , Leonotis , Phlomis )
Reference: [Cantino & Sanders 1986 Syst Bot 11:163–185]

MONARDA

BEE BALM

Annual, perennial herb, generally short-hairy
Stems erect, generally branched
Leaf petioled to sessile
Inflorescences axillary, each head-like; lower subtended by leaves; upper by bracts
Flower: calyx 5-lobed; corolla 2-lipped, upper lip entire or ± 2-lobed, hood-like, arched, lower lip generally 2–3-lobed, central lobe generally > lateral lobes; stamens 2, ascending under upper lip, = or > upper lip; style unequally lobed
Species in genus: 16 species: North America
Etymology: (Nicolas Monardes, Spanish physician and botanist, 1493–1588)
Reference: [Scora 1967 Univ Calif Publ Bot 41:1–71]
Some cultivated for flowers, tea.

Native

M. pectinata Nutt.

Annual
Stem 1.5–3.5 dm; hairs short, ± curled down
Leaf short-petioled to subsessile; blade 1.5–4 cm, generally oblong to lanceolate, entire to serrate, ± glabrous to finely strigose especially on veins
Inflorescence: subtending leaves gradually reduced upward, uppermost ± 4–7 mm, ovate
Flower: calyx tube 6–8 mm, throat densely puberulent within, lobes 2–4 mm, long-acuminate; corolla 12–25 mm, white to pink, lower lip sometimes purple-spotted
Chromosomes: 2n=18,36
Ecology: Washes, rocky slopes, pinyon/juniper woodland
Elevation: 1150–1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: e Desert Mountains (New York Mtns)
Distribution outside California: to w Great Plains, n Mexico
Flowering time: Jul–Sep
Horticultural information: TRY.