Mentha arvensis
American Wild Mint

Family: Lamiaceae (Mint family)

Photo taken on the upper Icicle River, moist soil near river (10-50 cm away)

Flowers:

verticils of flowers axillary, and separated by regular internodes; calyx 10 nerved; corolla with a short tube, and nearly regular 4 lobed limb; upper lobe formed by the fusion of the 2 lobes of the upper lip, tending to be broader than the other lobes

Leaves:

all cauline; 2 to 8 cm with several pairs of lateral veins; floral leaves spreading, greater than flower clusters

Plant:

Traditionally the stems were used for tea by the Okanagon-Coville and Sanpoil, and the leaves were used by the Shuswap for tea. The plant was also used by the Thompson as a insect repellent.

Habitat:

common, usually growing in moist areas

Distribution of species:

circumboreal species

Distribution of genus:

25 species: temperate North America, Eurasia