9. Mentha Cardiaca Gerarde. Small-Leaved Mint

Fig. 3688

Mentha Cardiaca Gerarde; Baker, Journ. Bot. 2: 245. 1865.

Pubescent or glabrate, often much branched, 1 1/2°-2 1/2° high, the upper branches ascending. Leaves lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, acuminate or acute at the apex, the lower 2'-3' long, the upper much smaller, all sharply serrate; flowers whorled in the upper axils; calyx-teeth subulate, about one-half as long as the tube.

Wet grounds, mostly along rivers and streams, Nova Scotia to New Jersey, Pennsylvania and District of Columbia. July-Sept.

Ro. Mentha Arvensis L. Corn Mint. Field Mint

Fig. 3689

Mentha arvensis L. Sp. Pl. 577. 1753.

Perennial by suckers, pubescent or glabrate; stems erect or ascending, simple or branched, 6-2° high, slender. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, oval or ovate, petioled, acute at the apex or the lower obtuse, crenate-serrate with bluntish teeth, rounded at the base, l'-2 1/2' long, 1/2'-1' wide, the upper not much smaller than the lower; whorls of flowers all axillary, usually about equalling the petioles; calyx pubescent, campanulate, its teeth triangular, about as long as the width of their base, acute or sometimes obtuse, one-third as long as the tube.

In dry waste places, New Brunswick to northern New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. Also in California and Mexico. Naturalized from Europe. Lamb's-tongue. Wild pennyroyal. July-Sept.

11. Mentha Canadensis L. American Wild Mint

Fig. 3690

Mentha canaaensts L. Sp. Pl. 577. 1753. Mentha borealis Michx. Fl. Bor. Am. 2: 2. 1803. Mentha canadensis var. glabrata Benth. in DC. Prodr. 12: 173. 1848.

Perennial by suckers; stem more or less pubescent with spreading or scarcely reflexed hairs, or glabrate, erect, simple, or branched, usually slender, 6'-2 1/2° high. Leaves oblong or ovate-oblong, or oblong-lanceolate, slender-petioled, acute at the apex, or the lower obtuse, sharply serrate, narrowed to a somewhat cuneate acute or obtuse base, glabrous or very sparingly pubescent, the larger 2-3' long, 1/2'-1' wide; whorls of flowers all axillary, often shorter than the petioles; calyx oblong-campanulate, densely or sparingly pubescent all over, its teeth one-fourth to one-third as long as the tube.

In moist soil, New Brunswick to Manitoba, British Columbia, Virginia, Nebraska, New Mexico and Nevada. Consists of several races, differing in pubescence, leaf-form and size. Odor like Pennyroyal. July-Oct.

12. Mentha Gentilis L. Creeping Or Downy Whorled Mint. Spearmint

Fig. 3691

Mentha gentilis L. Sp. Pl. 577. 1753-Mentha sativa L. Sp. Pl. Ed. 2, 805. 1763.

Perennial by suckers; stem rather stout, ascending or erect, branched, glabrous or puberulent with short reflexed hairs, 1°-2° high. Leaves ovate or oval, short-petioled, sparingly pubescent with scattered hairs on both surfaces, often blotched, pinnately veined, acute at both ends, sharply serrate, the larger l 1/2'-2' long, the upper sometimes much smaller than the lower; whorls of flowers all axillary; pedicels glabrous; calyx cam-panulate, glabrous below, its teeth subulate, ciliate, one-half as long as the tube; corolla glabrous.

In waste places and along streams, Nova Scotia to northern New York, Iowa, North Carolina and Tennessee. Naturalized from Europe. Aug.-Oct.