Species of mint - Field, Lemon Catnip, Marsh
Content:
Lamb plants have been living on Earth almost since the creation of the world. This is not an unfounded statement. Ancient medical treatises mention the healing properties of mint. Its twigs were found during excavations of Egyptian tombs, founded in the 12-6 centuries. BC. In the modern world, there are decorative species of mint that are not inferior in usefulness to those that grow in the wild, they can be saved for the winter.
Species of mint
It is difficult to count how many representatives of this culture exist on Earth. There are several dozen of them in Russia alone. In a feral form, menthol-containing plants can be found along river banks and in wet meadows and fields. Most varieties of mint grow in summer cottages, vegetable beds, and courtyard areas.
Species of mint
The culture is also grown in specialized farms for the needs of pharmacology, perfumery, cosmetology, and the food industry. A wide range of uses and in household use. In order not to confuse mint with other species of the family, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with information about the varieties and characteristics of the culture, to know how it looks.
Popular varieties of mint
| View | Features of the | Description |
| Pepper | It has a hybrid origin, rarely producing nut seeds, therefore it usually propagates vegetatively. More often than other species, it is found in summer cottages. Blooms in the first half of summer with small lilac or purple flowers, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences. | The plant has a knobby, creeping, branched rhizome, giving numerous offshoots in the upper layer of the soil. The pubescent stems are colored green or dark purple. The opposite petiole leaves are darker above than below. They have an oblong or ovoid shape with serrated edges and a pointed apex. Inflorescence is a spikelet up to 5 cm long, located at the top of the stem. |
| Field mint | This species is also called meadow and wild. It is found everywhere in swamps, near water bodies, in meadows and fields, inhabiting all parts of the world. It stands out among other varieties of mint with a bitter taste and a pungent smell of menthol, which can discourage appetite. | Depending on habitat conditions, it can reach 1 m, but there are also "dwarfs" 15 cm long. This is due to the fact that the branched stems either stand upright or spread along the ground. The rhizome, like peppermint, is creeping. The leaves have an oblong epileptic shape. The flowers are lilac, sometimes with a pinkish tinge, collected in spherical, false whorls. By autumn, it gives a smooth fruit with 4 erems. |
| Lemon Catnip | If you delve into the catnip in particular, it becomes clear that this is not a real mint, but belongs to the same family. The plant got its name because of the great love of felines for it - mint acts on them as an aphrodisiac. Large area of distribution in the wild. It is actively cultivated as a valuable raw material and honey plant. | Usually bushes grow up to 0.4-1 m and give strong erect stems. The plant has a branched woody root. The leaves are pubescent, ovate-triangular in shape, with a sharp tip, teeth along the edges and a cordate base. Due to the purple-purple specks on the petals, white flowers look dirty from a distance. Inflorescences sit at the ends of the shoots and are complex semi-umbels. The oval smooth brown fruit ripens towards the end of summer. |
| Marsh mint "Sonya" | People call this representative a flea because of its ability to scare away insects with its aromas. 95% of the essential oil consists of pulegon, which is used in perfumers, confectioners and in the canning industry. | The average mint height ranges from 20 to 60 cm. On the bush, sparsely fibrous, branched stems are formed. Leaves are small petiolate, epileptic, sometimes ovoid with a wedge-shaped base. White tubules with lilac-pink petals form dense globular inflorescence rings. Brown, shiny, rounded fruits can be harvested in early fall. |
| Fragrant mint | Most often found in the Mediterranean, but can grow in Russia in damp, sunny areas. Used in the food industry: added to canned food and drinks, as well as in the production of medicines. | The pubescent erect stems reach a height of 30 cm to 1 m. Small green leaves are framed along the edges by teeth. On some varieties of this type, the plates are decorated with white blotches. At the tops of the shoots, cone-shaped dense inflorescences are formed, collected from small white flowers that can retain their aroma until the very frost. If you breed on the site, you will have to constantly cut off rapidly spreading rhizomes. |
| Moroccan mint | The name itself speaks of the homeland of culture. Due to the sultry climate, the leaves contain an increased amount of menthol and essential oils. It stands out for its pleasant peppery taste and fresh aroma. It is she who is added to real mojito. | You can recognize the curly-haired beauty by the corrugated oblong leaves of an emerald hue, framed by teeth. Straight pubescent stems barely reach a height of 70 cm. The inflorescences, collected at the end of the stem, have a short peduncle and are colored lilac-pink. |
| Garden mint | It is also called spearmint and is appreciated for its pleasant taste. So that the species does not get out of the summer cottage, the earth is periodically dug up. | The stems of the plant are straight and flexible, with a height of 0.3 to 1 m. Ovate leaves are bordered by teeth. Blooms with pinkish or white spikelets. Outwardly similar to peppermint. The difference is in a more delicate sweetish aroma. |
| Long leaf mint | The stems of the plant are straight and flexible, with a height of 0.3 to 1 m. Ovate leaves are bordered by teeth. Blooms with pinkish or white spikelets. Outwardly similar to peppermint. The difference is in a more delicate sweetish aroma. | The species can rightfully be called "soft and fluffy" not only because of the stem, but also the leaves covered with light felt. Grayish plates with jagged edges have a lanceolate-oblong shape. Lilac or pale lilac inflorescences consist of small flowers, collected in racemose whorls. The fruits ripen by early September. |
| Forest mint | In Russia, this species is known as oregano. In Europe, they call it oregano. If planted in the country, you will have to do pruning to stop the growth. Begins to bear fruit from the second year of life. | The plant has branched roots and stems. The length of the latter ranges from 30 to 70 cm. A strongly elongated leaf plate has a light bottom and a dark top. The only representative of mint, giving corymbose inflorescences with small pinkish or pale purple petals. |
There are many other types of culture: chocolate, menthol, dog mint, Korean, curly, bergamot, Mexican, etc. Some have pineapple or strawberry flavor, others have apple or caramel flavor. This feature of mints attracts perfumers.
Types of mint
General information about mint
All types of mint belong to the Lamb family. These are perennials whose stems die off by winter. The roots endure frost and give numerous new shoots by spring.
How mint blooms
Mint gives color from the first year of life. Each species has its own shade of petals. They also differ in the shape of the inflorescence. But on all the bushes, small five-petal flowers are formed, on average reaching a size of 4 cm.
Mint in bloom
Plants begin to bloom in late June - early July. At the same time, the color of mint lasts until the very cold, on others, fruits ripen by September.
Another common characteristic for all species is a rich heady-cooling aroma that attracts bees. It is the smell of flowers that is the main “visiting card” of culture.
Medicinal properties of mint
The main medicinal substance of plants is menthol. In some varieties, it is present up to 80%. In addition, the composition contains flavonoids, tannins, organic acids, bitterness, carotene, rutin, ascorbic acid and valuable trace elements. Due to this, mint has an analgesic and disinfectant effect, and aids in digestion.
The plant is used in folk and official medicine in the form of various forms for the treatment of diseases.
Healing properties of culture
| In any form | Diseases |
| Mint leaf teas | · Colds and persistent cough; Asthma; • neuroses; · Headache and menstrual pain; • disorders of the digestive tract and flatulence; Colitis, increased acidity of the stomach; · Diseases of the gallbladder and liver. |
| Water infusion | Recommended for toxicosis of pregnant women and body poisoning. |
| Mint water | Used to gargle with inflammation. Helps eliminate bad breath and relieve toothache. |
| Drops on alcohol | Tincture is prescribed for nausea and vomiting, and also as a pain reliever. |
| Fresh gruel | It is used externally for the treatment of fungal diseases |
The antiseptic and refreshing properties of essential oil are used in pharmacology for the manufacture of medicines (in particular, Menovazin, Corvalol, Validol). The substance is included in rinses, toothpastes and powders. In the pharmacy, you can buy syrups, tinctures, herbal teas from mint.
Mint therapy
But not everyone can benefit from culture. It is undesirable to give concentrated tea to small children and pregnant women. It is better to completely abandon alcoholic tinctures of this category. For people suffering from chronic heartburn, drugs are harmful.
A bit of history
The inhabitants believe that the culture got its name due to the high content of menthol. Quite the opposite - the plant itself gave the name to the etheric component, it arose from a beautiful legend.
Pluto's beloved was called the cop. The jealous wife of the deity turned the girl into a plant, endowing it with a cold but delicate aroma. The name heard from the ancient Greeks was transformed in the Slavic language into "mint".
Difference from lemon balm
At first glance, both plants are very similar to each other. If you look closely, you can find the difference.
Comparative review
| Characteristic | Mint | Melissa |
| External sign | Most species have an ordinary, straight, long stem, crowned with an inflorescence-spikelet. The height of the bush barely reaches a meter; dwarf plants are often found. Leaves are oval, lanceolate. | The branching of the stem begins at the surface of the earth. Some shoots spread along it. The inflorescences are rings that encircle the branches evenly along the entire length. The height of the bush can reach 1.5 m. Leaves are only ovoid. |
| Scent | The notes of menthol, which is an aphrodisiac, are clearly caught. The spicy refreshing scent is more like the delicate scent of spring flowers. | Citrus notes (lime, orange, lemon) are more inherent. Therefore, bees prefer lemon balm in summer. |
| Taste | Toning, with menthol flavor. When added to dishes, the latter acquire a well-defined spice. | He cannot boast of a bouquet of tastes - when chewing the leaves, you can feel lemon sourness in your mouth. |
| Chemical composition | Contains a large list of medicinal ingredients. | Less saturated with useful elements. The main ingredients are fats, vitamins and minerals. Essential oils and dietary fiber, like peppermint, are absent. |
| Influence on the body | Tones up and invigorates. | Calms the nervous system. |
Comparative photo
Melissa is not used medicinally as often as mint. But she is also able to solve some health problems.
Even not knowing how to distinguish a mint plant by species, you can safely use the culture in cooking, drinks, home cosmetology and folk medicine.
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