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Mentha spicata (view source)

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|genus=Mentha  
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|familia=Lamiaceae
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|genus=Mentha
 
|species=spicata
 
|species=spicata
 
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|jumpin=This is the plant information box - for information on light; water; zones; height; etc. If it is mostly empty you can help grow this page by clicking on the edit tab and filling in the blanks!
 
|jumpin=This is the plant information box - for information on light; water; zones; height; etc. If it is mostly empty you can help grow this page by clicking on the edit tab and filling in the blanks!
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|image=Upload.png
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|image=Minze.jpg
 
|image_width=240
 
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|image_caption=Mentha spicata Foliage
 
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{{Inc|
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Mentha spicata, Linn. (M. viridis, Linn.). Spearmint. Fig. 2359. Perennial by leafy stolons: st. erect, with ascending branches 1-2 ft. high: lvs. lanceolate, sharply serrate, 2½ in. or less in length: whorls of fls. in narrow, interrupted spikes 2-4 in. long, the central spike exceeding the lateral ones; calyx-teeth hirsute or glabrate. Widely naturalized about old gardens throughout the older settled parts of the U. S.; native in Eu. and Asia.
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{{redirect|Spearmint}}
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{{Taxobox
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| color = lightgreen
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| name = ''Mentha spicata''
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| image = Minze.jpg
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| image_width = 240px
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| image_caption = Foliage
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| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
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| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
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| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
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| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
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| familia = [[Lamiaceae]]
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| genus = ''[[Mentha]]''
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| species = '''''M. spicata'''''
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| binomial = ''Mentha spicata''
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| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
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}}
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'''''Mentha spicata''''' ('''Spear Mint''' or '''Spearmint'''; syn. ''M. viridis'') is a species of [[Mentha|mint]] probably native to much of [[Europe]] and southwest [[Asia]], though its exact natural range is uncertain due to extensive early cultivation. It grows in wet soils.<ref name=empp>Euro+Med Plantbase Project: [http://ww2.bgbm.org/_EuroPlusMed/PTaxonDetail.asp?NameId=111945&PTRefFk=500000 ''Mentha spicata'']</ref><ref name=blamey>Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). ''Flora of Britain and Northern Europe''. ISBN 0-340-40170-2</ref>
 
'''''Mentha spicata''''' ('''Spear Mint''' or '''Spearmint'''; syn. ''M. viridis'') is a species of [[Mentha|mint]] probably native to much of [[Europe]] and southwest [[Asia]], though its exact natural range is uncertain due to extensive early cultivation. It grows in wet soils.<ref name=empp>Euro+Med Plantbase Project: [http://ww2.bgbm.org/_EuroPlusMed/PTaxonDetail.asp?NameId=111945&PTRefFk=500000 ''Mentha spicata'']</ref><ref name=blamey>Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). ''Flora of Britain and Northern Europe''. ISBN 0-340-40170-2</ref>
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The name 'spear' mint derives from the pointed leaf tips.<ref name=turner>[[William Turner|Turner, W.]] (1568). ''Herbal''. Cited in the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]''.</ref>
 
The name 'spear' mint derives from the pointed leaf tips.<ref name=turner>[[William Turner|Turner, W.]] (1568). ''Herbal''. Cited in the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]''.</ref>
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==Cultivation and uses==
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{{Inc|
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Spearmint is grown for its aromatic and [[carminative]] oil, referred to as '''oil of spearmint'''. It grows well in nearly all temperate climates. Gardeners often grow it in pots or planters due to its invasive spreading roots. The plant prefers partial shade, but can flourish in full sun to mostly shade. Spearmint is best suited to loamy soils with plenty of organic material. Spearmint leaves can be used whole, chopped, or dried. The leaves lose their aromatic appeal after the plant flowers.
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Mentha spicata, Linn. (M. viridis, Linn.). Spearmint. Fig. 2359. Perennial by leafy stolons: st. erect, with ascending branches 1-2 ft. high: lvs. lanceolate, sharply serrate, 2½ in. or less in length: whorls of fls. in narrow, interrupted spikes 2-4 in. long, the central spike exceeding the lateral ones; calyx-teeth hirsute or glabrate. Widely naturalized about old gardens throughout the older settled parts of the U. S.; native in Eu. and Asia.
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==Cultivation==
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Spearmint grows well in nearly all temperate climates. Gardeners often grow it in pots or planters due to its invasive spreading roots. The plant prefers partial shade, but can flourish in full sun to mostly shade. Spearmint is best suited to loamy soils with plenty of organic material. Spearmint leaves can be used whole, chopped, or dried. The leaves lose their aromatic appeal after the plant flowers.
    
The [[cultivar]] ''Mentha spicata'' 'Nana', the Nana mint of [[Morocco]], possesses a clear, pungent, but mild aroma and is an essential ingredient of [[Touareg Tea]].
 
The [[cultivar]] ''Mentha spicata'' 'Nana', the Nana mint of [[Morocco]], possesses a clear, pungent, but mild aroma and is an essential ingredient of [[Touareg Tea]].
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Spearmint is an ingredient of [[mojito]], the traditional Cuban cocktail. It is used as a flavouring for [[toothpaste]] and [[confectionery]], and is sometimes added to shampoos and soaps. In [[herbalism]], spearmint is steeped as tea for treatment of stomach ache.
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===Propagation===
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===Pests and diseases===
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==Varieties==
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Recent research has shown that Spearmint tea may be used as a treatment for mild [[hirsutism]] in women. Its anti-androgenic properties reduce the level of free testosterone in the blood, while leaving total testosterone and DHEA unaffected.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6376599.stm Tea 'controls female hair growth' </ref>
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==Chemistry==
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==Gallery==
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A major component of the oil is R-[[Carvone]]; pure R-Carvone is sufficient to produce a smell which people identify as a spearmint smell.<ref>{{cite journal | url=http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/jafcau/1971/19/i04/f-pdf/f_jf60176a035.pdf?sessid=6006l3 | title=Chemical and sensory data supporting the difference between the odors of the enantiomeric carvones | author=TJ Leitereg, DG Guadagni, J Harris, TR Mon, ... | journal=Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry | volume=19 | issue=4 | year=1971 | pages=785}}</ref>
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==References==
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<gallery perrow=5>
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{{Commons|Mentha spicata}}
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{{reflist}}
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<gallery>
   
Image:mentha spicata 02.jpg|Plant in flower
 
Image:mentha spicata 02.jpg|Plant in flower
 
Image:Koeh-096.jpg|1887 illustration
 
Image:Koeh-096.jpg|1887 illustration
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Image:Upload.png| photo 1
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Image:Upload.png| photo 2
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Image:Upload.png| photo 3
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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{{Herbs & spices}}
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==References==
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<references/>
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*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
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<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->
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<!--- xxxxx  *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608  -->
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==External links==
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*{{wplink}}
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[[Category:Herbs]]
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{{stub}}
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