Mentha aquatica L.

Family: LABIATAE (LAMIACEAE)

Genus: Mentha

Catalan common name: Herba d'aigua. Herba-sana borda.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Holoartica

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Streams, torrents and humid soils.

Characteristics: A herb found in streams and permanent ponds. It has oval or round leaves with a dentate margin; they are dark green, sometimes with reddish hues. We will distinguish it without any doubt if we smell the leaves between our fingers and notice the typical smell of mint. It produces violet flowers in a kind of glomerule at the top of the branches. It flowers in summer and in autumn.