Lamiaceae FAMILY

Mentha × piperita

Edibility

4/5

Medicinal

5/5

Safety & Hazards

In large quantities this plant, especially in the form of the extracted essential oil, can cause abortions so should not be used by pregnant women.

Botanical Description

Mentha x piperita is a perennial plant growing from a spreading, rhizomatous rootstock. It produces a cluster of stems that can grow up to 45cm tall. Peppermint arose in cultivation, probably in 17th Century England, as the result of a cross between Mentha aquatica and Mentha spicata. It has been in cultivation since then and has become a major domestic herbal remedy and source of essential oils for flavouring, perfumery etc .The plant is often cultivated, both on a garden and a commercial scale, and is also harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEurasia - Britain to France, east to Ukraine, the Caucasus and Iran

HabitatA natural hybrid, Mentha aquatica x Mentha spicata, widespread as a garden escape and also naturalized, being found in moist soils in ditches, waste places etc[ 9 Title Edible and Medicinal Plants. Publication Author Launert. E. Publisher Hamlyn Year 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2 Description Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information. , 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. ].