Mentha suaveolens Ehrh.

Spice Flower detail

Family: LABIATAE (LAMIACEAE)

Genus: Mentha

Catalan common name: Herba-sana borda. Madastra. Mentastra.

Spanish common name: Mastranzo. Mentastro.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Holoartica

Uses and properties: Aromatic. Edible or foodstuffs. Medicinal.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Garden plants. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Humid soils.

Characteristics: This palnt is common to wet soils and it is easy to grow in the garden. Leaves are rounded and thick, the obverse has a marked enervate pattern and covered with hairs. Easily extends by subterraneous rhizomes. Flowers during the summer forming branched spikelets of small white flowers.