Illinois Natural History Survey - University of Illinois

Mentha arvensis
Red mint, Field mint
Taxonomy

Synonyms: Mentha arvensis var. villosa, Mentha arvensis villosa, Mentha x cardiaca gerarde, Mentha X gentilis, Mentha arvensis var villosa, Mentha x gracilis

Subspecific taxa:

Classification:

Other taxonomic & nomenclature sources: USDA PlantsITISThe Plant ListIPNI

Images

   
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Species Distribution
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County Map Legend
Absent:
Not known from county
Medium confidence:
Medium or unknown confidence;
often old records or unverifiable observations
Medium-high confidence:
Often observations by expert botanists
High confidence:
Often vouchered herbarium records
Planted / introduced:
Native species introduced outside historic range,
or only in planted locations within county (e.g., restorations)
Historic / extirpated:
Only historic records for the species; likely extirpated
(Note that this category is not yet functional)

North American distribution maps for this species: FLNAUSDA PlantsBONAPBISON

Collections, Observations & Flowering by Month [?]

J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

Collections & Observations by Decade [?]

Species Status

Status/Listing: No Information

Notes:

Origin:

Species Description

General: Dicot-herb, perennial

Roots: primary

Shoots: opposite leaf arrangment; simple leaf type; serrate leaf margin; Pinnate leaf venation

Inflorescence: spike

Flowers: perfect; 5 merous; complete, irregular; hypogynous ovary position

Fruit: nut

Physiology: autotrophic; C3 C02 fixation

Reproduction: sexual, vegetative

Ecology & Natural History

Habitat: Species is distributed in cattle yards. Waste ground, along ditches.

ILPIN Notes: This species is reputed to be a hybrid between M. spicata and M. arvensis. Corolla is nearly regular in axillary whorls forming an interrupted spike; upper leaves are not reduced; glabrous. Leaf petioles longer than the cluster of flowers; corolla nearly regular, arranged in axillary whorls. Leaves used for tea. Stem and leaves are pubescent; upper leaves are not reduced; flowers are nearly regular in axillary whorls. Species is occasional to common. Leaves are used for tea.

Functional Relationships:

  • Pollinators:
  • Dispersal:
  • Mycorrhizae: endomycorrhizal
  • N2 fixation:

Human Relationships:

  • Edibility [?] :
  • Showy Flowers: low

Wildlife and Livestock Information:

  • Food Value:
  • Cover Value:

Coefficient of Conservatism (C-value) [?] :

  • Entire State: 4
  • Chicago Area: 5

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