MENTHAL. - MINT
Scientific Description:
Perennial (rarely annual) herbs of damp places, with creeping rhizomes. Leaves simple, with characteristically scented epidermal glands. Flowers hermaphrodite or female on the same (gynomonoecious) or separate (gynodioecious) plants, usually in dense many-flowered bracteate verticillasters. Bracts similar to leaves, or if reduced, then verticillasters condensed to form a long spikelike or capitate terminal inflorescence. Bracteoles small. Calyx actinomorphic or sub-bilabiate, tubular or campanulate, 10−13-veined, with 5 subequal or unequal teeth. Corolla weakly 2-lipped, with four subequal lobes, upper lobe wider, usually emarginate; tube shorter than calyx. Stamens 4, subequal, divergent or ascending under upper lip, exserted from corolla (except in female flowers and most hybrids, where stamens are reduced or absent). Nutlets smooth, foveolate, reticulate or rugulose.
Reference:
Harley RM (1982). Mentha L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 7: 384.
Public Description:
Mentha is a genus of perennial (rarely annual) herbs, known as “mint”, and has a subcosmopolitan distribution across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America. There are approximately 42 species in the world and 10 species (13 taxa) in Türkiye. They have white to purple flowers. Fresh or dried leaves have a fresh and aromatic flavor and are used for teas, beverages, jellies, syrups, candies and ice creams. The substances that give the characteristic aroma and flavors are menthol and pulegone (essential oil) which are used as flavorings, respiratory refreshers, beverages, antiseptic mouth rinses, toothpaste, chewing gums, desserts and candies. In traditional folk medicine, they are used for treatment of stomach ache, chest pains and especially with lemon and ginger, in colds.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentha, Accessed date: 14.02.2016.
Anonymous 2 (2016). http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Lamiaceae/Mentha/, Accessed date: 14.02.2016.
Dirmenci T (2012). Mentha L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 561–562.
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