Mentha

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Superasterids
Clade: Asterids
Clade: Lamiids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Subfamily: Nepetoideae
Tribe: Mentheae
Subtribe: Menthinae
Genus: Mentha

Species

Mentha × rotundifolia

Mentha × villosa

Notes

M. suaveolens Ehrh., 1792 and M. × rotundifolia (L.) Huds., 1762 are sometimes confused, particularly due to the undifferentiated use of the commercial names ‘Apple Mint’ and ‘Pineapple Mint’.

The name Mentha rotundifolia (sic) is sometimes used to refer to M. × rotundifolia or M. suaveolens, whereas it is actually an illegitimate synonym of M. longifolia subsp. longifolia (L.) L., 1759, namely M. rotundifolia Sole, 1789 [nom. illeg.], which adds to the confusion.

Scans

Some scans of Mentha spp. leaves taken from cultivated plants (personal collection).

img/mentha.webp — Leaves of *M. suaveolens* Ehrh., 1792 (top) and *M. × rotundifolia* (L.) Huds., 1762 (bottom)

img/mentha-2.webp — Leaves of *M. × piperita* L., 1753 (top) and *M. aquatica* L., 1753 (bottom)

img/mentha-3.webp — Leaves of *M. spicata* L., 1753 (top) and *M. × villosa* Huds., 1778 (bottom)