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Photographer: Merel R. Black
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Family Lamiaceae
Mentha spicata L.
spearmint
Mentha: Latin name for an unfortunate Greek nymph named Mentha who got herself turned into a mint plant, and a genus of culinary herbs named after her, this is one of the oldest plant names still in use
spicata: spiked
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| Status: | Introduced - escaped |
| Plant: | erect, perennial, 1'-3' tall, aromatic forb; square stems |
| Flower: | pink, 1/8" long, 4 stamens slightly longer than petals;  inflorescence 1"-4 1/2" long, slender, with dense whorls forming a terminal spike sometimes separated at the base; blooms July-Oct. |
| Fruit: | 1-seeded nutlet |
| Leaf: | opposite, stalkless, toothed |
| Habitat: | wet; meadows, streambanks |
| (Glossary) |
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