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Latin for Mint
RobertHM
Posts: 22
in Fruit & veg
Hi
I just wanted to know if anyone knew the species name for mint.
I know that the genus is Mentha but I am unsure the species name.
I the mint plant I mean is just the standard mint you can buy at most garden centres.
Thank you
0
Posts
Mentha spicata is the common mint but there are loads of others - basil mint, Moroccan mint, ginger mint, apple mint, chocolate mint and so on. I once had about 8 different types in tubs but they proved not to be hardy enough for my winters so I just have basil, Moroccan and ginger mint left and take the tubs into shelter for winter.
I am sure you can find this on Wikipedia, but Mentha spicata is spearmint, my favourite. Peppermint - Mentha piperata I think - is another species, and as said above, there are many more. Peppermint seems to be used a lot in teas etc. Spicata and piperata are hardy, I have them in pots. I got a rather nice fungus growing in one pot, Agrocybe nivalis if I remember right.
Mentha longifolia is the commonly use mint, I think.
My most commonly used mint is Mentha suaveolens, the roundish leafed furry one
In the sticks near Peterborough
http://lamiaceae.myspecies.info/
For culinary use I was recommended Mentha spicata (Spearmint) and Mentha suaveolens (Apple Mint). Some may prefer Mentha × piperita (peppermint). You're lookin for Familia: Lamiaceae subfamilia:Nepetoideae tribus:Mentheae subtribus: Menthinae for the genus: Mentha.
I've only got as far as sowing them, I don't use it often in the kitchen it can trigger reflux.
The one that I'd most like in my back garden is The Royal Mint, something like Mentha pecunia-impimere
In my experience, spearmint (menta spicata) is the one most commonly sold and used for culinary purposes but I find ginger, apple and Moroccan have a finer flavour and do well in pots.
Thank you that helps a lot