Lamiaceae FAMILY

Mentha canadensis

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species, large quantities of some members of this genus, especially when taken in the form of the extracted essential oil, can cause abortions so some caution is advised.

Botanical Description

Mentha canadensis is an erect, perennial plant producing a clump of annual stems 60 - 100cm tall from rapidly spreading, underground rhizomes[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. This is the only species of mint with forms that are truly adapted to tropical areas. It is harvested from the wild, whilst selected forms are often cultivated both in the home garden and commercially, as a medicine, food and source of essential oil for flavouring etc. Mentha haplocalyx is frequently cultivated in E and S Asia for the essential oils of the leaves which are rich in menthol; after World War II grown also in Brazil, Argentina, USA, Seychelles, India (Jammu and Kashmir) and Europe (especially in Spain and Hungary), in Africa cultivated in trials. Commonly planted as an aromatic and medicinal plant in E and SE Asia, New Zealand, Cuba and Mexico. Also used as a pot herb. Menthol is used for the production of tooth paste, mouth water, cosmetical and pharmazeutical preparations and for flavouring cigarettes. Oil without menthol can be used for perfumes and other cosmetics. The delimitation of the species is still under discussion. By some authors it is considered as a very polymorphous complex species with different chromosomal races (2n=24 to 2n=108) and chemotypes (3-octan, pulegon, menthon - menthol) whereas other authors tend to separate this complex into two to four different species.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeAsia - western Siberia, south through Myanmar to Indonesia, east to Japan, Philippines; Americas - Alaska to Newfoundland, south to Guatemala, Florida

HabitatMoist places at low to moderate elevations in N. America[ 204 Title Flora of Canada Publication Author Livingstone. B. Publisher National Museums of Canada Year 1978 ISBN 0-660-00025-3 Description In 4 volumes, it does not deal with plant uses but gives descriptions and habitats. ]. Wet areas throughout China at elevations from sea level to 3,500 metres[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].