Garden Mint - introduced (*Mentha spicata)

Other names: Spearmint.

Family: Lamiaceae (Mint family).

Native of Europe and the Mediterranean region.

Occurrence: A weed of wet areas e.g. along major creeks.

Identification:

• the leaves are pointed, stalkless, and in opposite pairs
• the leaves have a mint smell when crushed
• the veins of the leaves are deeply impressed
• the flowers are white, pink or lilac.

This is a familiar garden plant, and is often spread from dumping of garden refuse. It is used as a culinary herb.

Similar species: Pennyroyal is a smaller plant with clusters of mauve to pale lilac flowers. Lemon Mint has lilac to pink flowers, and the leaf-veins are less deeply impressed. Many different varieties of mints are grown in gardens, and some of the wild populations may be hybrids.

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