1036

                                              Mentha spicata L.

Synonym	:	Mentha crispa L.
Family	:	Lamiaceae
Local name	:	English -Spearmint
Flowering and fruiting period	:	July to September
Distribution	:	C. Europe. Naturalized in Britain.
Habitat	:	Cultivated Beds
Uses	:	Leaves - raw or cooked. A strong spearmint flavour, they are used as a flavouring in salads or cooked foods.An essential oil from the leaves and flowers is used as a flavouring in sweets, ice cream, drinks etc
Key Botanical Characters.. Spearmint is a herbaceous perennial plant growing 30 to 100 cm tall, with leaves growing 5-9 cm long and 1.5-3 cm broad, having a serrated margin. The flowers are produced in slender spikes, each flower pink or white, 2.5-3 mm long and broad.

                

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