Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses

FIELD MINT

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Mentha canadensis L.

[=Menthe arvensis L.]

Konza Prairie, Riley County, Kansas

Perennial

Height: 12-30 inches

Family: Lamiaceae - Mint Family

Flowering Period: July, August, September,October

Stems:

Ascending to erect, branched distally, usually sparsely to densely retrorsely puberulent or hirsute, rarely glabrous.

Leaves:

Cauline, opposite, simple; petiole .12 to .6 inch; blade lanceolate to elliptic, .8 to 2 inches long, .2 to 1.4 inch wide, base acute to tapered, margins serrate, apex acute to acuminate, surfaces sparsely pubescent abaxially, glabrous adaxially.

Inflorescences:

Cymes, axillary; bracts lanceolate to elliptic, apex acute to acuminate, surfaces glabrous or sparsely pubescent abaxially.

Flowers:

Calyx radially symmetric, cylindric to campanulate, .1 to .14 inch, tube 10-13-nerved, throat glabrous, lobes 5, narrowly triangular, apex not spinulose and hooked; corolla pale blue to lavender, .16 to .28 inch, radially symmetric or nearly so, funnelform, lobes 4, abaxial lobes 3, medial lobe slightly larger than lateral lobes, adaxial lobe 1, sometimes emarginate, flat; stamens 4, exserted, filaments straight; pistil 1, 2-carpellate; ovary deeply 4-lobed; style 1, basal; stigmas 2.

Fruits:

Schizocarps comprising 2-4 mericarps that are tan, broadly ellipsoid to broadly ovoid, less than .04 inch, glabrous, smooth; seeds 1 per mericarp.

Habitat:

River and stream banks, shores of ponds and lakes, marshes, wet ravines and ditches.

Distribution:

Throughout Kansas

Origin:

Native

Uses:

Various Native American tribes used field mint, either as a beverage or for medcinal purposes; took infusions for colds, coughs, fevers, and headaches; and used the leaves to flavor food.

Comments:

Mentha, an ancient Greek name for a mint and canadensis, of Canada.

Field mint inflorescence