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Peppermint

Latin Name: Mentha piperita

Family: Labiatae / Lamiaceae

 
Description

Many varieties were used as culinary herbs until the first medicinal use was recorded by John Ray in 1696 who called it "mentha palustris". However, a quote by Wilafried of Strabo in the 12^th century "if any man can name...all the properties of mint, he must know how many fish swim in the Indian ocean" would lead us to believe that it has been used medicinally for a very long time.

In a 1721 London pharmacopoeia, mint is listed as a digestive aid and flavouring agent and in the British medical journal "Lancet" in 1879 it is mentioned for the relief of headaches and neuralgia. Peppermint is a hybrid between spearmint (Mentha spicata) and watermint (Mentha viridis or M. aquatica). There are about thirty true species of mint but it has been extensively hybridized.

This is a vigorous, creeping plant, often purple tinged perennial with smooth, lanceolate, toothed leaves up to 8cm long. Lilac-pink sterile flowers are borne on terminal spikes in summer.

Peppermint is widely cultivated in Europe, North America, and Australia. It prefers moist fertile soil in partial shade, can become invasive.

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