Mentha spicata, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 186

14. M. spicata L. , Sp. Pl. 576 (1753)

( M. viridis (L.) L. , M. crispa L. , M. crispata Schrader , M. longifolia auct., non (L.) Hudson, M. sylvestris auct., non L., M. niliaca auct., non Juss. ex Jacq., M. cordifolia auct., non Opiz).

Perennial 30-100 cm, with strong, sweet scent, less frequently with pungent scent (as in 10) or musty. Leaves (3O-)5O-9Ox(7-) 15-3Omm, lanceolate or lanceolate-ovate, smooth or rugose (rarely 40-60 x 25-40 mm, ovate or ovate-oblong, strongly rugose), widest near the base, serrate with regular teeth (rarely the whole leaf strongly crispate), glabrous to densely hairy, the hairs on the lower surface both simple and branched, the basal cell 30-47 pm in diameter. Inflorescence variable. Calyx 1-3 mm, campanulate, glabrous or hairy; teeth subequal. Corolla lilac, pink or white. Fertile anthers 0- 38-0- 52 mm. Nutlets 0-74-0- 94 mm, reticulate in hairy plants, smooth in glabrous plants. 2« = 48. Widely cultivated as a pot-herb and for its aromatic oils, and naturalized throughout a large part of Europe. [Al Au Az Be BI Br Bu Cr Cz Da Ga Ge Gr Hb He Ho Hs Hu It Ju Lu No Po Rm Rs (W, K) Su Tu.]

The origin of this species is unknown, but it probably arose in cultivation. It behaves as a segmental allopolyploid derived by hybridization and chromosome doubling from 11 and 12. It is propagated vegetatively in cultivation but often tends to segregate parental characters when selfed. This makes separation from its hybrids with 11 and 12 very difficult except on fertility criteria. Plants with broad, rugose, glabrous leaves from S.W. England and probably elsewhere have been known as M. cordifolia auct.,? non Opiz (AT. suaveolens x spicata ) but are fertile tetraploids and should be referred to 14.

Many records of 12, especially from lowland areas of Europe, are referable to 14 (or to its hybrids with 11 or 12). These hairy plants are best distinguished from 12 by anther, nutlet and hair characters. Variants with crispate leaves occur in cultivation and this character can also be found in many hybrids of which M. spicata is a parent. Glabrous plants from Kriti and Turkey-inEurope, similar to 14 but with small anthers, may be diploids; their taxonomic status is not clear.

M. x villosonervata auct.,? an Opiz (AT. longifolia x spicata ) is probably widespread as an escape, but is much confused with M. x villosa . It differs mainly in its narrower, usually patently toothed leaves with branched hairs few or absent. It is sterile and has 2n = 38.