Mentha cervina L.

Family: LABIATAE (LAMIACEAE)

Genus: Mentha

Catalan common name: Menta de cérvol. Poliol blanc. Poliol de cérvol..

Spanish common name: Menta cervuna. Poleo cervuno. Poleo fino..

Province distribution: Girona. València.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Western Mediterranean

Plants protected by law: País Valencià Catalogue.

IUCN Category: NTNear threatened

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Mulleres de montaña, peat bog, mountainous lakes. Perennial herbaceous communities growing on floodable siliceous soils, near streams or inland temporary lagoons

Characteristics: Low-growing herb (5-30 cm). Stems more or less glabrous. Leaves opposite, linear (less than 5 mm wide), and glabrous, with a rough central vein. Inflorescence verticillate, composed of spherical glomerules (1.5–2 cm) arranged along the stem. Each glomerule consists of numerous flowers and bears 2-3 leaf-like bracts at its base. Calyx tubular, ending in 4 equal teeth. Corolla white (4 mm), with protruding stamens

Observations: Plant with highly variable appearance: ranging from small, thyme-like individuals to more robust ones with thick stems and larger flowers. Hairiness also varies, from glabrous plants to others with sparse, scattered indumentum