Spearmint


Scientific Name

Mentha spicata L.


Other Names

Pudinaa


Life Form

Herb


Family

Lamiaceae



Pudinaa
Image by - Saroj Kasaju
Usages

Food- Widely used as a culinary herb for flavoring food and beverages. A herb tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves. Essential oil extracted used as a flavouring in sweets, ice cream, drinks, chewing gum. Medicine- The plant has antiemetic, antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, restorative, stimulant and stomachic properties. A tea made from the leaves has traditionally been used in the treatment of fevers, headaches, digestive disorders and various minor ailments. Cosmetics/Essential oils- The oil is used commercially as a food flavouring and oral hygiene preparation.


Native to

Afghanistan, China, India, Nepal, Pakistan


Habitat

Thrives in moist fields, waste places, and cultivated gardens.


Conservation Status

Least Concern



Plant Description

It is herbaceous perennial plant growing 30-100 cm tall.

Stem is erect, branched, and square-shaped.

Leaves are oppositely arranged, ovate with serrated margins, 5-9 cm long and 1.5-3 cm broad.

Flowers are small, pink or white, clustered in slender spikes, each flower 0.25-0.3 cm long and broad.

Fruit is tiny, dry nutlet contained within the flower calyx.


Phenology

Flowering: July-September.