Mentha spicata L.
Spearmint
Spearmint is a herbaceous perennial, native to much of Europe and cooler parts of Asia. It is now naturalized in temperate climates worldwide. (Note that wintergreen comes from an unrelated species, Gaultheria procumbens.)
Plants: Like other members of the mint family, spearmint has square stems. They are light green, sometimes tinged with red, and 1–2′ (30–60 cm) high.
Leaves: Simple, opposite, 1¾–3½ ⨉ ½–1″ (5–9 ⨉ 1.5–3 cm), with serrated margins. Leaves are nearly hairless and sessile, or nearly so. Crushed leaves have a distinct spearmint odor.
Flowers: Slender pink or white spikes up to 5″ (12 cm) long. Individual flowers are about ⅛″ (3.2 mm) long. Flowers appear from July to September.
Fruits: Seeds are ~1/32″ (0.6–0.9 mm), contained in a calyx that persists late in the season.
Habitats: Rich, moist soils in full sun to part shade.
Edibility: Spearmint is a popular flavoring agent for teas, beverages, jellies, syrups, candies, ice cream, and lamb dishes.
Medical: Spearmint shows a wide range of antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects.
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Similar species. |
Online References:
9/8/2021 · Cathance River Nature Preserve, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 9 × 6″ (22 × 15 cm) 
8/14/2014 · Oak Hill, Littleton Conservation Land, Littleton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 5″ (21 × 12 cm) 
8/4/2013 · Barry’s, Acton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 4½″ (10 × 11 cm) 
8/14/2014 · Oak Hill, Littleton Conservation Land, Littleton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 5″ (16 × 12 cm) 
9/8/2021 · Cathance River Nature Preserve, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (14 × 10 cm) 
8/14/2014 · Oak Hill, Littleton Conservation Land, Littleton, Massachusetts · ≈ 9 × 6″ (23 × 16 cm) 
9/8/2021 · Cathance River Nature Preserve, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9 cm) 
6/26/2012 · By Jacquelyn Boyt 
8/14/2014 · Oak Hill, Littleton Conservation Land, Littleton, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 6″ (19 × 15 cm) 
9/8/2021 · Cathance River Nature Preserve, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 6 × 5″ (16 × 13 cm) 
9/8/2021 · Cathance River Nature Preserve, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 10 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Asteridae | A large class that encompasses asters |
| Order | Lamiales | Aromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary |
| Family | Lamiaceae | Mint family |
| Genus | Mentha | From Minthe or Menthe, a water nymph in Greek mythology, who was transformed by Persephone into a mint plant in revenge for Minthe’s ongoing affair with Hades (husband of Persephone). |
| Species | spicata | With flowers in spikes |
Mentha spicata description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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