Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin

WILD MINT

(Mentha arvensis L.)


Wild mint

MINT FAMILY (Labiatae or Lamiaceae)

IND. STATUS: FACW

FIELD CHARACTERISTICS: A rhizome-producing, perennial, clonal herb, usually 20-80 cm. high. The square stems are erect or ascending with opposite leaves. Leaves have short stalks (but greater than 2 mm.), are serrate, and taper to a slender tip. Both the stems and leaves are variably hairy or fuzzy. Flowers occur in dense, axillary clusters. The petals are white to light purple or pink. Flowers have four stamens and are in bloom from July through September. The calyx is completely hairy; calyx lobes are broadly triangular to awl shaped. Mints (Mentha spp.) in general are strongly aromatic.

ECOLOGICAL NOTES: This common mint occurs in sedge meadows, calcareous fens , shrub-carrs, alder thickets, shallow marshes, and along streams and shores.

SOURCE: Fassett (1957); Gleason and Cronquist (1991); and Swink and Wilhelm (1994).


Previous Section -- Marsh Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata L.)
Return to Contents
Next Section -- Common Bugleweed (Lycopus americanus Muhl.)