Mint Family. — Labiatæ
| Gill-over-the-Ground. | Nepeta Glechoma. |
| Ground Ivy. | |
| Robin-run-away. | |
| Creeping Charlie. |
Found in dooryards and roadsides, amidst grass, in May.
The trailing stalk is leafy, square, and somewhat hairy; pale green in color.
The leaf is nearly round, with a heart-shaped base, the margin cut in large rounded scallops, and the surface soft hairy to the touch; the color is green, often sprinkled with lighter, mouldy-looking patches. The leaves, on curved stems, grow in pairs.
The flower is 2-lipped; the upper lip slightly parted, the lower being more broad and spreading, and 3-cleft,—the middle lobe notched. The color varies from light to darker blue-violet, the lower lip and throat being spotted with small specks of reddish-violet. The tubular calyx is 5-parted, and green. The flowers, on short stems, spring from the angles of the leaves.
Introduced from England into our gardens, the one desire of this “natural born” rover seems to be that of escaping from bounds,—to run away riot on the green sward, under the hedge, and so out on the highway.
Catnip. Nepeta Cataria.
Found from July to September, on the roadsides, and about dwellings.
The large square stalk is branching, and rather leafy; it grows between 2 or 3 feet high, and is strong-fibred, downy, and grooved down the middle of each side; its color is light gray-green.
The broad oval leaf is heart-shaped at the base, the edge is cut into large rounded scallops, and the surface is downy. In color it is a grayish-green. The leaves, on very short stems, grow in pairs.
The small flower is 2-lipped; the upper lip is erect, and notched in the middle of the margin, the larger lower lip is 3-lobed, the middle lobe being much the largest. Its color is a lavender tinted white, spotted with lavender dots. The small, tubular, 5-pointed calyx is green. The flowers grow upon the stalk in short spike-like clusters.
The Catnip has a pungent, mint-like odor. It is somewhat sprangling in growth, and only a few flowers open together; but the heart shaped leaf is most pleasing to the touch, because of its fine silky texture.
| Bee Balm. | Monarda didyma. |
| Oswego Tea. |
Found in July (but occasionally later in the season also), in the shade of moist woods, frequently near water.
The stalk grows from 1 to 2 feet high, and is noticeably square; it is juicy, hairy and rough to the touch. In color, light green, with a red ring at the joints.
The leaf is oval, broad at the base, and tapering to a long, sharp point, many ribbed, with its margin coarsely notched, and rough with hairs; green in color. The leaves, on short, hairy, red stems, grow in pairs, which are at alternate angles with each other.
The conspicuous flower is tubular, very small at the base, spreading wide in the throat, and 2-lipped; the upper lip is very narrow, sharp-pointed, and curving, the lower lip is larger, spreading, and often 2-cleft; the texture is fine and delicate. The pistil and 2 long, slender stamens protrude from under the tip of the upper lip, and, like the corolla, are colored a full, glowing red. The small calyx, with its round, narrow-throated, and 5-pointed tube, is of a papery texture, and finely grooved; in color it is a duller and darker red than the corolla. The flowers are set in a large terminal head, that is surrounded by a row of drooping, oval, smooth, red leaf-like bracts.
These bracts, while bright in color, do not possess the rich fullness of hue which belongs to the flowers themselves; just beneath them a pair of stalk-leaves crowd up close, and are each adorned with a dash of scarlet, as though the dye had spilled over from the blossoms. The buds open in the center of the head first, and continue blooming in rings, outward. Not even the Cardinal Flower produces a more vivid effect than a group of these brilliant flowers, standing beside a pool of dark water, in the heavy shade of forest trees.
Wild Bergamot. Monarda fistulosa.
Found in the dry soil of roadsides and pastures during July and August.
The smooth square stalk is slightly grooved, and somewhat slender, though strong in fibre; it grows from 2 to 5 feet in height, and branches only for the flowers. Color, green tinged with dull violet.
The leaf is oval, broad at the base, and tapering to the point; its margin is sparingly notched, the texture is exceedingly fine, and the surface is soft to the touch. It is aromatic in odor. The color is grayish-green, the midrib being lighter.
The flower is 2-lipped, with a long slender tube, and the pistil and 2 stamens project beyond the upper lip; they are colored like the corolla, a clear fine lavender. The small, tubular calyx is minutely 5-pointed; of a green color that is tinted with dull violet. The flowers grow in large terminal heads, which are set about by a row of small, light green leaves (bracts).
The flowering begins at the center of the head, and continues in ever-widening whorls, leaving behind them a slightly rounded disc of small tubular calices, resembling a honeycomb,—the intermingled green and lavender in this disc form a pleasing note in the color-scheme of the plant, whose leafage is unusually fine in texture, as well as tone.
Hyssop. Hyssopus officinalis.
Found along roadside banks, near human habitations, during July and August.
The stalk is 8 or 12 inches high with many leaves and trig little branches; it is square, tough-fibred, slender, and smooth. The color is light green, inclining to a blue-green,—reddish near the foot.
The long and narrow leaf has a blunt-pointed tip, an entire margin, and shows only its midrib; the texture is thick and a little stiff, and the surface is very slightly rough. In color it is a fine gray-green, with a hint of the rich color of the flower. The leaves grow upon the stem in clustered pairs, which occur at right angles to each other.
The small tubular flower is 2-lipped; the narrow upper lip being 2-cleft, while the wider lower lip is 8-cleft, with its middle and largest lobe cut into 2 scallops. In texture the corolla is fine and thin, and in color it is a deep and strong purple-blue. The 4 stamens, and the pistil, are long, and curve out from the hollow of the upper lip,—they are bright blue, and their tips, at first a rich red, become white as they mature. The small 5-pointed calyx is reddish, with a fine green bloom. The flowers grow in close groups of 3 or 5, in the angles of the leaves, and form an irregular one-sided terminal spike.
This plant affords a perfect example of color-harmony, with its contrasting absolute purplish-blue corolla, and deep red stamens, brought into unity by the purple-toned green of its leaves. It has a strong and pungent scent.
| Self Heal. | Brunella vulgaris. |
| Heal All. | |
| Thimble-flower (Vt.) |
Found everywhere, among short grass, from July to September.
The stalk (from 6 to 12 inches high) is more or less reclining in habit; it is leafy, and branching slightly, thick, square, with grooves on its two opposite sides, tough-fibred, and smooth. In color, light green.
The leaf is long, oval with a tapering tip, a sparsely notched, or entire margin, and a smooth surface. Its growth, on short stems, is in pairs. Green in color.
The flower is irregularly 2-lipped, the upper lip hoodlike, and the lower 3-lobed, the middle lobe being largest and fringed on its edge. The color is violet, the hooded lip is generally darker than the other parts of the corolla; the buds are much deeper in color than the blossoms. The lower division of the 2-parted calyx has 2 long points; a broad heart-shaped bract supports its base; in color it is green with a violet tinge. The flowers grow in an elongated, or thimble-shaped head, on the end of the stalk, and from the angles of the upper leaves.
The clear violet of the corolla is brought into harmony with the leaf-green, through the violet tinted calyx which supplies the unifying color. The plant’s habit of growth is sprangling, for the stem, which seems strong-fibred in itself, is given to lopping weakly upon surrounding vegetation.
Motherwort. Leonurus Cardiaca.
Found in blossom through July and August, on waste grounds around dwellings.
The large, stout, square stalk grows from 3 to 4 feet high; it branches, is very leafy, and of a dull purplish color.
The upper leaves, long and taper-pointed, are sharply notched, with 3 strong ribs; the lower leaves are more deeply cut, and broader than the upper ones, and are set on longer foot-stems. The texture is coarse, the surface soft-hairy, and the color dark green. The leaves grow near together, and point out in all directions, around the stalk.
The small 2-lipped flower has the upper lip slightly arched, and the lower one 3-lobed; there are 4 stamens under the hood of the upper lip; the outside of the corolla is covered with silky hairs; the color is a dull pink. The 5-pointed, green calyx becomes rigid, and bristling with age, and is persistent on the stalk after the flowers have disappeared. They grow in close whorls around the stalk at short intervals.
Motherwort is effective from the distance, with its many alert leaves, and close flower-whorls threaded on its long stalk; it is a favorite with the bees, and is cherished for their sakes by the beekeeper. It has been naturalized in this country from Europe—perhaps purely for the profit of the bee?
Wild Mint. Mentha Canadensis.
Found on moist banks, beside running water, commonly in the shade, from July to September.
The branching, leafy stalk is square, coarse-fibred, hairy, and about 1 or 2 feet in height. In color it is pale green, sometimes bronzy.
The long leaves are pointed at both ends (except the upper leaves, which are wider at the base), with notched margins, midribs prominent underneath, and a coarse texture, the upper surface being rough, while the underside is hairy; green. They are set on short stems, and grow in pairs, at opposite angles to each other.
The corolla of the very small flower is shaped like a 4-divided tube, the upper division being notched at its tip: it is white, or faintly tinged with pink or lavender; the hairy calyx is pale green, or pinky. The flowers are arranged in close rings about the stalk, in the angles of the upper leaves.
The scent of this plant resembles Pennyroyal, though less strong.
Spearmint. Mentha virides.
Found in old orchards and in upland pastures, by runnels, or wet hollows, during August.
The stalk (from 1 to 2 feet in height) bears branches in pairs; it is square, firm-fibred, and smooth. The color is green, with a purple tone.
The oval leaf, with its tapering, long tip, has a notched margin, is much veined, and is coarse in texture, while its surface is a trifle glossy. It has a strong aromatic flavor to the taste. In color it is green, showing the same red-purple of the stems at the ribs and margins. The leaves are set in pairs that spring at right angles to each other.
The very small tubular corolla is 4-divided, and dark lavender in color; the 5-parted calyx is green. The flowers are set in whorls about the stalk, with a space between each whorl,—beneath each ring of flowers, and supporting it in its place, are seen a pair of little purple-tinted bracts.
According to personal observation, the buds become dark purple in color on the south side of the stalk before those on the north side have lost their green. This is one of the nattiest of the Mints in growth, and is held in especial affection by children.
Peppermint. Mentha piperita.
Found along meadow runlets and brooks,—near clear water,—in August.
The branching, leafy stalk, from 12 to 15 inches high, is square, woody-fibred, smooth, and shining. It is a noticeably dark purple-tinted green, sometimes reddish.
The leaf is oval with a broad base and sharp tip, the margin is toothed, its ribs are noticeable, and texture thin, the under surface being slightly rough, although the upper is velvety; its color is green, toned with purple, which shows upon the upper side of the midrib and along the edge. The leaves are set on short purplish stems, and arranged in pairs, which grow at right angles to each other.
The very minute flower has a 2-lipped tubular corolla, the upper and lower lips being cleft, or faintly notched, in the middle; it is lavender, and so is the pale projecting pistil. The calyx is 5-parted, very slightly hairy, and green-purple in color. The flowers are arranged in compact whorls, and form a close, short, round, terminal spike.
Its pungent odor and taste are the most commonly noted traits of this Mint, but the rich-toned shining stalk is more worth observation.
American Pennyroyal. Hedeoma pulegioides.
Found, from July to September, in upland fields and pastures.
The sometimes branching stalk is slender, but strong in fibre; it grows from 5 to 10 inches high, and is hairy to the touch. Green in color.
The small leaf is long-pointed, with a slightly toothed margin, and somewhat roughened surface. It is medium green in color. The leaves, on slight stems, are set in pairs, which occur closely, and at right angles to each other.
The corolla of the very small flower consists of a downy 2-lipped tube, the upper lip being largest, flat, and notched at the tip, the lower 3-cleft; it is lavender in color. The small calyx is 5-parted. The flowers are set, on tiny stems, in rings about the stalk in the angles of the leaves, forming a terminal spine.
The perfume of the Pennyroyal is carried to a considerable distance,—were it not for this aromatic pungency the casual observer would often fail to find its haunt, so closely does it keep itself among the grasses of the pasture.
Hemp Nettle. Galeopsis Tetrahit.
Found in waste places, from July to September.
The stalk grows to be 1 or 2 feet high; it is branching, and 4-angled, and swollen beneath the joints; coarse in fibre, and thickly covered by stout bristle-like hairs. In color dark green, or dull purplish-red at the joints.
The long-pointed oval leaf is many ribbed, with a coarsely notched margin, thin but coarse texture, and roughened by hairs. Its color is dull green, lighter underneath. The leaves, on their hairy reddish stems, grow in pairs which spring at right angles to each other.
The small tubular corolla spreads into 2 divisions, the upper being erect and arched, the lower 3-cleft with a slightly heart-shaped middle lobe; its color is pink or lavender. The 4 stamens stand erect under the upper lip. The hairy, green calyx is bell-shaped, with 5 bristling points. The flowers are set (supported by tiny hairy bracts) in whorls, in the angles of the upper leaves.
A large variety, G. grandiflora, is often found in the same localities; the difference lies in the larger size of the corolla, which is clear white in color prettily marked with purple on its lower lip, and in the rounder shape of the calyx. Both plants are unpleasant to the touch because of their harsh bristle-like hairs.
Blue Curls. Trichostema dichotomum.
Found on dry sandy plains and in open fields, in September.
The branching, leafy, and erect stalk grows from 6 to 12 inches high; it is strong and woody-fibred, not noticeably square as is usual among the Mints, minutely hairy, and soft to the touch. Its color is green, reddish near the root.
The leaf is oval, with an entire margin, and is nearly smooth to the touch. It is green in color. The leaves, on short stems, grow in pairs. They are strong scented.
The corolla is irregular in shape; 5-lobed, 4 of which are equal in size, slightly pointed, and erect or bent slightly forward, while the remaining lobe is long, narrow, and down-curving; in color a deep violet-blue. The 4 stamens and the pistil are long, pale, or reddish-violet; the green calyx is 5-parted. The flowers are set on short stems from the ends of the branches.
The blossom opens in the early morning sunlight. At first the pistil and stamens extend beyond the flower in a long curve, but as the day advances their tips gradually draw inwards until they are brought into the throat of the corolla, and thus become the little blue curl which gives the plant its bye-name; by three o’clock of the afternoon the curl is completed and the flower falls. Its odor is strong, with a rank resemblance to the Pennyroyal.