Mentha arvensis
| Mentha arvensis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Mid Fall |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Mentha arvensis (common name: corn mint)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. Germination is usually fairly quick. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Mentha species are very prone to hybridisation and so the seed cannot be relied on to breed true. Even without hybridisation, seedlings will not be uniform and so the content of medicinal oils etc will vary. When growing plants with a particular aroma it is best to propagate them by division[K].
Division can be easily carried out at almost any time of the year, though it is probably best done in the spring or autumn to allow the plant to establish more quickly. Virtually any part of the root is capable of growing into a new plant. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. However, for maximum increase it is possible to divide the roots up into sections no more than 3cm long and pot these up in light shade in a cold frame. They will quickly become established and can be planted out in the summer.
Cultivation: An easily grown plant, it succeeds in most soils and situations so long as the soil is not too dry[1][2][3]. This species tolerates much drier conditions than other members of the genus[4]. Prefers a slightly acid soil[2]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. A sunny position is best for production of essential oils, but it also succeeds in partial shade.
Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[4].
Most mints have fairly aggressive spreading roots and, unless you have the space to let them roam, they need to be restrained by some means such as planting them in containers that are buried in the soil[K].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Polymorphic[3].
The whole plant has a very strong, almost oppressive, smell of mint[5].
The flowers are very attractive to bees and butterflies[6]. A good companion plant for growing near brassicas and tomatoes, helping to deter insect pests[7].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[8].
Range: Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain, N. Asia and the Himalayas.
Habitat: Arable land, heaths, damp edges of woods[9][10].
Edibility: Leaves - raw or cooked. A reasonably strong minty flavour with a slight bitterness, they are used as a flavouring in salads or cooked foods[9][11][12].
A herb tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves[13][12].
An essential oil from the plant is used as a flavouring in sweets and beverages[12]. The leaves contain about 0.2% essential oil[14].
Medicinal: Corn mint, like many other members of this genus, is often used as a domestic herbal remedy, being valued especially for its antiseptic properties and its beneficial effect on the digestion. Like other members of the genus, it is best not used by pregnant women because large doses can cause an abortion.
The whole plant is anaesthetic, antiphlogistic, antispasmodic, antiseptic, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, emmenagogue, galactofuge, refrigerant, stimulant and stomachic[15][11][14]. A tea made from the leaves has traditionally been used in the treatment of fevers, headaches, digestive disorders and various minor ailments[16]. The leaves are a classical remedy for stomach cancer[14]. Another report says that this species is not very valuable medicinally[17]. The leaves are harvested as the plant comes into flower and can be dried for later use[4].
The essential oil in the leaves is antiseptic, though it is toxic in large doses[16].
Usage: The plant is used as an insect repellent[18][7][19]. Rats and mice intensely dislike the smell of mint. The plant was therefore used in homes as a strewing herb and has also been spread in granaries to keep the rodents off the grain[20]. The leaves also repel various insects[21].
An essential oil is obtained from the plant[4]. The yield from the leaves is about 0.8%[22]. The sub-species M. arvensis piperascens produces the best oil, which can be used as a substitute for, or adulterant of, peppermint oil[4]. Yields of up to 1.6% have been obtained from this sub-species[22].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Known 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.
Also Known As: M. austriaca.
Links
References
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Simons, Arthur. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin, 1977.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Baines, Chris. Making a Wildlife Garden.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Riotte, Louise. Carrots Love Tomatoes. Garden Way, 1978.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Mabey, Richard. Food for Free. Collins, 1974.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Schofield, Janice. Discovering Wild Plants.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Philbrick, Helen and Richard Gregg. Companion Plants. Watkins, 1979.
- ↑ Turner, Nancy. Plants in British Columbian Indian Technology. British Columbia Provincial Museum, 1979.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
- ↑ Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.