Laminate plants have been living on Earth almost since the creation of the world. This is not an allegation. The ancient medical treatises mention the healing properties of mint. Its branches were found during excavations of Egyptian tombs, laid in the 12-6 centuries. BC. In the modern world, there are decorative types of mint that are not inferior in usefulness to those that grow in the wild, they can be preserved for the winter.
Types of mint
It is difficult to count how many representatives of this culture exist on Earth. In Russia alone there are several dozen of them. In the wild, menthol-containing plants can be found along river banks and in moist meadows, in fields. Most varieties of mint grow in summer cottages, vegetable beds, and court territories.
Spearmint
Culture is also being grown in specialized farms for the needs of pharmacology, perfumery, cosmetology, and the food industry. A wide range of uses in household goods. In order not to confuse mint with other species of the family, you need to familiarize yourself with the information about the varieties and characteristics of the culture, and know how it looks.
Popular Spearmint Species
| View | Features | Description |
| Pepper | It has a hybrid origin, rarely giving nut seeds, so it usually reproduces vegetatively. More often than other species found in summer cottages. It blooms in the first half of summer with small lilac or violet flowers collected in spike-shaped inflorescences. | The plant has a nodular, creeping, branched rhizome, giving numerous offspring in the upper soil layer. The pubescent stems are green or dark purple. Opposite petiole leaves are darker above than below. They have an oblong or ovoid shape with serrated edges and a pointed apex. Inflorescence is a spikelet up to 5 cm long, located on the top of the stem. |
| Mint field | This species is also called meadow and wild. It is found everywhere in swamps, near water bodies, in meadows and fields, populating all parts of the world. It stands out among other types of mint with a bitter taste and a pungent smell of menthol, which can discourage appetite. | Depending on the living conditions, it can reach 1 m, but there are also “dwarfs” of 15 cm each. This is due to the fact that branched stems either stand directly or spread along the ground. Rhizome, like peppermint, is creeping. Leaves have an oblong epileptic shape. The flowers are lilac, sometimes with a pinkish tint, collected in spherical, false whorls. By autumn it gives a smooth fruit with 4 erems. |
| Lemon cattle | If you especially look at the catnip, it will become clear that this is not real mint, but belongs to the same family. The plant got its name because of the great feline love for it - mint acts on them like an aphrodisiac. Large distribution area in the wild. It is actively cultivated as a valuable raw material and honey plant. | Usually bushes grow to 0.4-1 m and give strong erect stems. The plant has a branchy, woody root. Leaves pubescent, ovoid-triangular in shape, with a sharp tip, teeth along the edges and a heart-shaped base. Due to the violet-purple dots on the petals from far away, the white flowers look dirty. Inflorescences sit on the ends of shoots and are complex semi-umbrellas. The oval smooth brown fruit ripens by the end of summer. |
| Peppermint "Sonya" | The people call this representative flea due to the ability of their aromas to deter insects. 95% of the essential oil consists of a bulletin used in perfumers, confectioners and in canning. | The average mint height ranges from 20 to 60 cm. On the bush, scattered-fibrous, branched stems form. The leaves are small petiolate, epileptic, sometimes ovoid with a wedge-shaped base. White tubules with lilac-pink petals form dense spherical inflorescence rings. Brown, shiny, rounded fruits can be harvested in early autumn. |
| Fragrant mint | Most often found in the Mediterranean, but can grow in Russia in humid sunny areas. Used in the food industry: added to preservation and drinks, as well as in the manufacture of medicines. | Downy erect stems reach a height of 30 cm to 1 m. Small green leaves are framed along the edges with teeth. On some varieties of this type, plates are decorated with white blotches. On the tops of the shoots, cone-shaped dense inflorescences are formed, collected from small white flowers that can retain aroma until the frosts. If you breed on the site, you will have to constantly cut off quickly spreading rhizomes. |
| Moroccan Mint | The name itself speaks about the homeland of culture. Due to the hot climate, the leaves contain an increased amount of menthol, essential oils. It stands out with a pleasant pepper taste and fresh aroma. It is she who is added to the real mojito. | You can recognize a curly beauty by the corrugated oblong leaves of an emerald shade framed by teeth. Direct pubescent stems barely reach a height of 70 cm. Inflorescences collected at the end of the stem have a short peduncle and are painted in a purple-pink hue. |
| Garden mint | It is also called spearmint and appreciated for its pleasant taste. So that the variety does not get out of the suburban area, the earth is periodically dug up. | The stems of the plant are straight and flexible, with a height of 0.3 to 1 m. Ovoid leaves are bordered by teeth. Blossoms in pink or white spikelets. It looks like peppermint. The difference is in a more delicate sweet aroma. |
| Mint leaf | The stems of the plant are straight and flexible, with a height of 0.3 to 1 m. Ovoid leaves are bordered by teeth. Blossoms in pink or white spikelets. It looks like peppermint. The difference is in a more delicate sweet aroma. | The view can rightfully be called "soft and fluffy" not only because of the stem, but also leaves covered with light felt. Grayish plates with serrations along the edges have a lanceolate-oblong shape. Purple or soft lilac inflorescences consist of small flowers collected in racemose whorls. The fruits ripen by early September. |
| Forest Mint | In Russia, this species is known as oregano. In Europe they call oregano. If planted in the country, you will have to do clippings to stop the growth. It begins to produce from the second year of life. | The plant has branchy roots and stems. The length of the latter ranges from 30-70 cm. A very elongated leaf plate has a light bottom and a dark top. The only representative of mint, giving corymbose inflorescences with small pinkish or pale purple petals. |
There are many other types of culture: chocolate, menthol, dog mint, Korean, curly, bergamot, Mexican, etc. Some have a pineapple or strawberry flavor, while others have apple or caramel. This feature of mint attracts perfumers.
Types of Mint
Note! Those who are looking for information about Ukhta mint will stumble on the Internet for advertising a beauty salon. In other words, such a plant does not exist in nature. The same can be said about Mint Dress - the link will lead to the online fashion store.
Mint Overview
All types of peppermint belong to the family of Labrum (Iasnatkovye). These are perennials in which stems die by winter. The roots tolerate frosts and by spring give new new shoots.
How Mint Blossoms
Mint gives color from the first year of life. Each species has its own shade of petals. They differ in the form of inflorescences. But on all the bushes small five-petalled flowers are formed, on average reaching a size of 4 cm.
Mint in bloom
Plants begin to bloom in late June - early July. At the same time, the color of mint is kept until the colds, others are already ripening fruits by September.
Another common characteristic for all species is a rich heady-cooling aroma that attracts bees. It is the smell of flowers that is the main "calling card" of culture.
The healing properties of mint
The main medicinal substance of plants is menthol. In some varieties, it is present up to 80%. In addition, the composition contains flavonoids, tannins, organic acids, bitterness, carotene, rutin, ascorbic acid and valuable trace elements. Due to this, mint has a painkiller and disinfectant effect, promotes digestion.
The plant is used in folk and official medicine in the form of various forms for the treatment of diseases.
Healing properties of culture
| In any form | Disease |
| Peppermint teas | · Colds and persistent cough; Asthma Neurosis Headache and menstrual pain; Digestive tract disorders and flatulence; Colitis, increased acidity of the stomach; · Diseases of the gallbladder and liver. |
| Water infusion | Recommended for toxicosis of pregnant women and poisoning of the body. |
| Peppermint water | Used to gargle with inflammation. Helps eliminate bad breath and relieve toothache. |
| Drops on alcohol | Prescribe tincture for nausea and vomiting, as well as a painkiller. |
| Fresh gruel | Used externally to treat fungal diseases |
The antiseptic and refreshing properties of essential oils are used in pharmacology for the manufacture of medicines (in particular, Menovazin, Corvalol, Validol). The substance is included in the rinse, toothpastes and powders. In the pharmacy you can buy syrups, tinctures, herbal mint tea.
Peppermint therapy
But not everyone can find a culture useful. It is undesirable to give concentrated tea to young children and pregnant women. It is better to completely abandon alcohol tinctures of this category. To people suffering from chronic heartburn, drugs are harmful.
Important! The main contraindication for the use of peppermint products is gender. Some types of culture negatively affect the production of testosterone and are able to reduce sperm activity in men.
A bit of history
The inhabitants believe that the name of the culture was due to the high content of menthol. Everything is exactly the opposite - the plant itself gave the name to the ethereal component; it arose from a beautiful legend.
The cop was called the beloved of Pluto. Jealous wife of the deity turned the girl into a plant, endowing it with a cold but delicate aroma. Heard from the ancient Greeks, the name was transformed in the Slavic language into "mint".
Unlike Melissa
At first glance, both plants are very similar to each other. If you look closely, the difference can be found.
Comparative review
| Characteristic | Mint | Melissa |
| External sign | In most species, an ordinary straight long stalk, crowned with an inflorescence-spikelet. The height of the bush barely reaches a meter, dwarf plants are often found. Leaves are oval, lanceolate. | The branching of the stem begins at the surface of the earth. Some shoots spread along it. Inflorescences are rings encircling branches evenly along the entire length. The height of the bush can reach 1.5 m. Leaves are only ovoid. |
| Scent | The notes of menthol, which is an aphrodisiac, are clearly captured. Spicy refreshing smell is more like a delicate aroma of spring flowers. | Citrus notes are more inherent (lime, orange, lemon). Therefore, in the summer, bees prefer melissa. |
| Taste | Toning, with a menthol flavor. When added to dishes, the latter acquire a well-defined spice. | It can’t boast of a bouquet of tastes - when you chew the sheets in your mouth, you feel lemon sourness. |
| Chemical composition | It contains a large list of healing components. | Less saturated with useful elements. The main components are fats, vitamins and minerals. Essential oils and dietary fiber, like peppermint, are absent. |
| Effect on the body | Tones up and invigorates. | Soothes the nervous system. |
Comparative photo
Melissa is not as common as peppermint for medicinal purposes. But she is able to solve some health problems.
Even without being able to distinguish the mint plant by species, you can safely use the culture in the preparation of dishes, drinks, home cosmetology and traditional medicine.
