Mentha micrantha, is a plant species in the genus Mentha, native to western Kazakhstan and southeastern Russia. The species was described in 1890 by botanist George Bentham.[3] Its epithet, micrantha, means "with small flowers."[4] It is unique among its genus as the only species that is an annual plant.[5][6]
| Mentha micrantha | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Mentha |
| Species: | M. micrantha
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mentha micrantha | |
| Synonyms | |
Taxonomy edit
The proper classification of Mentha micrantha is contentious. Several taxonomy references, such as Plants of the World Online and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, accept it as a distinct species.[7][3][8] A 2006 treatment of the genus Mentha however asserted it to be a variety of Mentha pulegium.[1]
Where treated as distinct, M. micrantha has been considered to belong to the section Pulegium within the Mentha genus.[5] This section associates it with plants such as M. pulegium as well as Mentha gattefossei.[9]
Description edit
Mentha micrantha is a small annual plant, growing erect, branched, square-shaped stems measuring from 12 to 30 centimeters high. Its leaves are almost entire, oblong or ovate in shape. It flowers in verticillasters 7 to 12 millimeters in length, producing bi-labiate corollas, pink, rose-lilac or purple in color.[2]
Distribution edit
Mentha micrantha is distributed throughout southeast Russia and western to central Kazakhstan.[1][10] It occupies steppe areas and sinkholes.[5][2] It is a hygrophyte, preferring wet soil conditions.[11]
Notes edit
- ^ a b c Tucker & Naczi 2006, p. 26.
- ^ a b c Borissova 1977, p. 450.
- ^ a b "Mentha micrantha (Fisch. ex Benth.) Heinr.Braun". The Plant List. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- ^ Harrison 2012, p. 135.
- ^ a b c Chambers & Hummer 1994, p. 430.
- ^ Harley & Brighton 1977, p. 77.
- ^ "Mentha micrantha (Fisch. ex Benth.) Heinr.Braun". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
- ^ "Mentha micrantha (Fisch. ex Benth.) Heinr.Braun". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- ^ Harley & Brighton 1977, p. 73.
- ^ Ishmuratova et al. 2020, p. 39.
- ^ Ishmuratova et al. 2020, p. 41.
References edit
- Borissova, A. G. (1977). "Genus 1301. Mentha L.". Flora of the U.S.S.R. Vol. 21. B.K. Shishkin (ed.), N Landau (trans.). Jerusalem: Keterpress Enterprises. pp. 427–450. ISBN 0-7065-1573-0.
- Chambers, Henrietta L.; Hummer, Kim E. (1994). "Chromosome Counts in the Mentha Collection at the USDA: ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository". Taxon. 43 (3): 423–432. doi:10.2307/1222717. ISSN 0040-0262. JSTOR 1222717. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- Harley, R. M.; Brighton, C. A. (1977). "Chromosome numbers in the genus Mentha L." Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 74 (1): 71–96. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.1977.tb01168.x. ISSN 1095-8339. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1845337315.
- Ishmuratova, M. Yu.; Butumbayeva, M. K.; Takhanova, D. A.; Zholdybayeva, K. B.; Silant'eva, M. M. (2020). "Analysis of representatives of Lamiaceae family in the flora of the Central Kazakhstan". Karaganda University Bulletin. 2 (98): 37–44.
- Tucker, Arthur O.; Naczi, Robert F. C. (2006-12-13). "Mentha: An Overview of Its Classification and Relationships". In Brian M. Lawrence (ed.). Mint: The Genus Mentha. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - Industrial Profiles (1st ed.). Boca Roton: CRC Press. pp. 1–40. ISBN 978-0-8493-0798-0.
External links edit
Data related to Mentha micrantha at Wikispecies- Mentha micrantha (Fisch. ex Benth.) Heinr.Braun - holotype images at JSTOR
