young shoot icon Home All plants About

Mentha arvensis L.

Field mint (en), Menthe sauvage (fr), Menthe des champs (fr)

Species

Angiosperms > Lamiales > Lamiaceae > Mentha

Characteristics

Stems ascending or erect, 2–8 dm, pubescent with few to numerous, short and retrorse to longer and more spreading hairs, often glabrous between the angles; lvs short-petiolate, the blade 2–8 cm × 6–40 mm, glabrous or hairy, serrate, acuminate, with several pairs of lateral veins, rather narrowly ovate to more often somewhat rhombic-elliptic, those of the infl, at least, tending to be cuneately tapered to the petiole; verticils compact, axillary to the scarcely reduced (middle and) upper lvs, and separated by internodes of fairly ordinary length; cal pubescent, 2.5–3 mm; cor white to light purple or pink, 4–7 mm, rarely casually 5-lobed; 2n=24–96. Moist places, especially along streams and shores; circumboreal, in Amer. s. to N.C., Mo., and Calif. Native Amer. and e. Asian plants, as here described, are var. canadensis (L.) Kuntze (var. glabrata; var. villosa). The European var. arvensis, with the lvs of the infl relatively broader, more ovate, and somewhat broadly rounded to the petiole, is intr. from Nf. to Que. and Pa., but extremes of one var. could pass for the other.
More
Perennial with hairy stems, to c. 50 cm tall, usually much-branched. Lvs shortly petiolate; lamina 2.5-5 × 0.7-2.5 cm, lanceolate, ovate or elliptic, not rugose, serrate or crenate-serrate, hairy, sometimes minutely so, dotted with oil glands; lamina of uppermost lvs smaller; base cuneate, apex ± subacute. Verticels of many fls, in distant axillary whorls; pedicels short. Calyx 3-3.5 mm long, campanulate, hairy and with oil globules outside, glabrous inside; teeth equal, much < tube at anthesis, acuminate. Corolla 5-6 mm long, hairy outside, mauve, exserted. Stamens usually exserted from corolla, sometimes scarcely exceeding calyx. Nutlets 8-9 mm long, oblong, minutely reticulate.
A herb with stalks that lie along the ground and only slightly curve up. The plant can be 10-60 cm long. The leaves are toothed and hairy. The are narrowly oval. They can be 7.5 cm long. The flowers are lilac, pink or white. They are at the top of the plant and in rings.
Life form perennial
Growth form herb
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention deciduous
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination entomogamy
Spread hydrochory
Mature width (meter) 1.0
Mature height (meter) 0.48 - 0.5
Root system creeping-root rhizome
Rooting depth (meter) 0.2
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Fruit color -
Fruiting months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway c3

Environment

Arable land, heaths, damp edges of woods. Fields, meadows, shores of ponds, rivers, lakes, canals and irrigation ditches, swampy places, boggy shady woods, mainly in the forest zone.
More
It is a temperate plant. It grows in damp soils and along shores. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 1,200-2,300 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 6-9
Light 5-8
Soil humidity 3-6
Soil texture 1-5
Soil acidity 3-7
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 6-8

Usage

The leaves are eaten as a flavouring. They can be used to flavour corn meal or in baking fish. The fresh or dried leaves can be used to make tea. It can yield an essential oil used to flavour sweets and drinks. The flowers are used to make a herbal tea.
Uses beverage essential oil food gene source incense insecticide material medicinal spice tea
Edible flowers leaves
Therapeutic use Antitussive agents (aerial part), Digestive system diseases (aerial part), Laxatives (aerial part), Pharyngitis (aerial part), Hemostat (flower), Oral Aid (flower), Antiemetics (flower), Diarrhea (flower), Flatulence (flower), Nausea (flower), Neuralgia (flower), Analgesic (leaf), Heart Medicine (leaf), Kidney Aid (leaf), Antiemetic (leaf), Love Medicine (leaf), Stimulant (leaf), Cold Remedy (leaf), Febrifuge (leaf), Hemostat (leaf), Toothache (leaf), Eye Medicine (leaf), Dermatological Aid (leaf), Antirheumatic (External) (leaf), Gastrointestinal Aid (leaf), Unspecified (leaf), Pediatric Aid (leaf), Carminative (leaf), Throat Aid (leaf), Pulmonary Aid (leaf), Panacea (leaf), Abdominal pain (leaf), Acne vulgaris (leaf), Amenorrhea (leaf), Analgesics (leaf), Anthelmintics (leaf), Antiemetics (leaf), Anti-infective agents (leaf), Anti-infective agents, local (leaf), Antipyretics (leaf), Antirheumatic agents (leaf), Antitussive agents (leaf), Anuria (leaf), Appetite stimulants (leaf), Arthralgia (leaf), Asthma (leaf), Cholera (leaf), Common cold (leaf), Contraceptive agents (leaf), Dental caries (leaf), Diarrhea (leaf), Digestive system diseases (leaf), Diuretics (leaf), Dizziness (leaf), Dyspepsia (leaf), Edema (leaf), Expectorants (leaf), Fertility agents (leaf), Fever (leaf), Flatulence (leaf), Gallbladder diseases (leaf), Gastric acid (leaf), Gastritis (leaf), Gastroenteritis (leaf), Halitosis (leaf), Hemorrhage (leaf), Hypnotics and sedatives (leaf), Infertility (leaf), Jaundice (leaf), Liver diseases (leaf), Malaria (leaf), Menstruation-inducing agents (leaf), Nausea (leaf), Neuralgia (leaf), Oral ulcer (leaf), Parasympatholytics (leaf), Pregnancy (leaf), General tonic for rejuvenation (leaf), Scorpion stings (leaf), Skin diseases (leaf), Stomach diseases (leaf), Stomatitis, aphthous (leaf), Ulcer (leaf), Urination disorders (leaf), Hemorrhoid Remedy (root), Disinfectant (root), Pediatric Aid (root), Other (root), Abdominal pain (root), Anti-infective agents (root), Abortifacient agents (seed), Antipyretics (shoot), Antitussive agents (shoot), Infertility (shoot), Stomach diseases (shoot), Amenorrhea (stem), Anti-infective agents, local (stem), Anuria (stem), Cholera (stem), Contraceptive agents (stem), Diarrhea (stem), Digestive system diseases (stem), Diuretics (stem), Dyspepsia (stem), Edema (stem), Flatulence (stem), Hypnotics and sedatives (stem), Jaundice (stem), Menstruation-inducing agents (stem), Neuralgia (stem), Pregnancy (stem), Panacea (unspecified), Pediatric Aid (unspecified), Sedative (unspecified), Febrifuge (unspecified), Analgesic (unspecified), Gastrointestinal Aid (unspecified), Cold Remedy (unspecified), Pulmonary Aid (unspecified), Ceremonial Medicine (unspecified), Dermatological Aid (unspecified), Carminative (unspecified), Antihemorrhagic (unspecified), Cough Medicine (unspecified), Tonic (unspecified), Unspecified (unspecified), Antidote (unspecified), Emetic (unspecified), Kidney Aid (unspecified), Antiemetic (unspecified), Misc. Disease Remedy (unspecified), Stimulant (unspecified), Blood Medicine (unspecified), Diaphoretic (unspecified), Antirheumatic (Internal) (unspecified), Antirheumatic (External) (unspecified), Herbal Steam (unspecified), Antidiarrheal (unspecified), Ache (unspecified), Ache(Ear) (unspecified), Headache (unspecified), Anesthetic (unspecified), Antiseptic (unspecified), Bactericide (unspecified), Beri-Beri (unspecified), Bite(Bug) (unspecified), Cancer(Stomach) (unspecified), Cold (unspecified), Conjunctivitis (unspecified), Cough (unspecified), Dermatitis (unspecified), Diarrhea (unspecified), Dyspepsia (unspecified), Edema (unspecified), Epistaxis (unspecified), Flu (unspecified), Fungicide (unspecified), Itch (unspecified), Measles (unspecified), Nausea (unspecified), Nose (unspecified), Ophthalmia (unspecified), Pharyngitis (unspecified), Pruritis (unspecified), Rheumatism (unspecified), Sore (unspecified), Sore(Throat) (unspecified), Spasm (unspecified), Stomachic (unspecified), Swelling (unspecified), Tea (unspecified), Throat (unspecified), Toothache (unspecified), Tumor (unspecified), Tumor(Nose) (unspecified), Fever (unspecified), Flux (unspecified), Bite(Snake) (unspecified), Repellant(Insect) (unspecified), Refrigerant (unspecified), Cold sore (unspecified), Menthol (unspecified), Laxative (unspecified), Tumor(Testicle) (unspecified), Tumor(Breast) (unspecified), Amenorrhea (unspecified), Analgesics (unspecified), Anorexia (unspecified), Anthelmintics (unspecified), Anti-bacterial agents (unspecified), Antiemetics (unspecified), Antifungal agents (unspecified), Anti-infective agents (unspecified), Anti-infective agents, local (unspecified), Anti-inflammatory agents (unspecified), Antipruritics (unspecified), Antipyretics (unspecified), Antirheumatic agents (unspecified), Antitussive agents (unspecified), Appetite stimulants (unspecified), Arthralgia (unspecified), Asthma (unspecified), Biliary tract diseases (unspecified), Bronchitis (unspecified), Cardiotonic agents (unspecified), Cholagogues and choleretics (unspecified), Cholera (unspecified), Colic (unspecified), Common cold (unspecified), Contraceptive agents (unspecified), Contusions (unspecified), Dental caries (unspecified), Dentifrices (unspecified), Diabetes mellitus (unspecified), Digestive system diseases (unspecified), Diuretics (unspecified), Dysmenorrhea (unspecified), Disorder of ejaculation (unspecified), Expectorants (unspecified), Fatigue (unspecified), Flatulence (unspecified), Gallbladder diseases (unspecified), Gastroenteritis (unspecified), Halitosis (unspecified), Heart diseases (unspecified), Helminthiasis (unspecified), Hypohidrosis (unspecified), Counterirritant (unspecified), Jaundice (unspecified), Laxatives (unspecified), Liver diseases (unspecified), Low back pain (unspecified), Menstruation-inducing agents (unspecified), Migraine disorders (unspecified), Mouthwashes (unspecified), Myalgia (unspecified), Neuralgia (unspecified), Parasympatholytics (unspecified), Peptic ulcer (unspecified), General tonic for rejuvenation (unspecified), Skin diseases (unspecified), Splenic diseases (unspecified), Stomach diseases (unspecified), Ulcer (unspecified), Urination disorders (unspecified), Vomiting (unspecified), Wound healing (unspecified), Wounds and injuries (unspecified), Child health (unspecified), Cooling effect on body (unspecified), Hair loss (whole plant), Antiemetics (whole plant), Anti-infective agents, local (whole plant), Appetite stimulants (whole plant), Astringents (whole plant), Diuretics (whole plant), Exanthema (whole plant), Fertility agents (whole plant), Flatulence (whole plant), Menstruation-inducing agents (whole plant), Paralysis (whole plant), Parasympatholytics (whole plant), General tonic for rejuvenation (whole plant), Stomach diseases (whole plant), Urination disorders (whole plant), Cooling effect on body (whole plant)
Human toxicity weak toxic (aerial)
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

It is grown from stem cuttings. The runners root easily at the nodes. It can be grown from seeds but this is difficult. A spacing of 20-40 cm is suitable.
Mode cuttings divisions seedlings
Germination duration (days) -
Germination temperacture (C°) -
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) -24
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Habit

Mentha arvensis habit picture by Miroslav Holub (cc-by-sa)
Mentha arvensis habit picture by full_spectrum (cc-by-sa)
Mentha arvensis habit picture by Dominique Wernert (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Mentha arvensis leaf picture by Rocio soledad barreiro moure (cc-by-sa)
Mentha arvensis leaf picture by Lopez Francisco (cc-by-sa)
Mentha arvensis leaf picture by Patrizia Garberi (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Mentha arvensis flower picture by ART ART (cc-by-sa)
Mentha arvensis flower picture by ART ART (cc-by-sa)
Mentha arvensis flower picture by Heinz Gass (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Mentha arvensis fruit picture by Samantha Salmond (cc-by-sa)
Mentha arvensis fruit picture by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Distribution

Mentha arvensis world distribution map, present in Afghanistan, Austria, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Belarus, Canada, Switzerland, Colombia, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Netherlands, Norway, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Sweden, Turks and Caicos Islands, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States of America, and Uzbekistan

Conservation status

Mentha arvensis threat status: Least Concern

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30026217-2
WFO ID wfo-0000240349
COL ID 3ZRM7
BDTFX ID 41956
INPN ID 108029
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR) Link

Synonyms

Mentha arvensis f. obtusidentata Mentha arvensis f. serpentina Mentha arvensis f. divergens Mentha arvensis f. diffusa Mentha arvensis f. styriaca Mentha x var. gracilis Mentha x var. moenchiana Mentha arvensis f. ambleodonta Mentha arvensis f. sylvatica Mentha arvensis f. tenuifolia Mentha arvensis f. cuneisecta Mentha arvensis f. pacheri Mentha arvensis f. campicola Mentha arvensis f. vicearvensis Mentha arvensis f. hirticalyx Mentha arvensis f. setigera Mentha arvensis f. dolichophylla Mentha arvensis f. albensis Mentha arvensis f. plagensis Mentha arvensis f. deflexa Mentha arvensis f. palustris Mentha arvensis f. adrophylloides Mentha x var. arguta Mentha arvensis f. lucorum Mentha arvensis f. domita Mentha arvensis f. licaensis Mentha arvensis f. losarvensis Mentha arvensis f. pacheriana Mentha arvensis f. bracteoligera Mentha arvensis f. savensis Mentha arvensis Mentha badensis Mentha badensis Mentha baguetiana Mentha barbata Mentha campestris Mentha cuneifolia Mentha ehrhartiana Mentha flagellifera Mentha flexuosa Mentha florida Mentha gallica Mentha gracilescens Mentha hakka Mentha intermedia Mentha moenchii Mentha multiflora Mentha mutabilis Mentha nobilis Mentha ocymoides Mentha odorata Mentha origanifolia Mentha palitzensis Mentha paludosa Mentha parvifolia Mentha parvula Mentha piersiana Mentha pilosa Mentha pilosella Mentha polymorpha Mentha praecox Mentha praticola Mentha procumbens Mentha prostrata Mentha schreberi Mentha sylvatica Mentha vanhaesendonckii Mentha varians Mentha x verticillata f. rothii Mentha distans Mentha ovata Mentha agrestis Mentha alberti Mentha angustifolia Mentha anomala Mentha arguta Mentha argutissima Mentha arvensihirsuta Mentha atrovirens Mentha bracteolata Mentha densiflora Mentha densifoliata Mentha dubia Mentha duffourii Mentha duftschmidii Mentha exigua Mentha foliicoma Mentha fontana Mentha fontqueri Mentha fossicola Mentha gentiliformis Mentha gentilis Mentha graveolens Mentha hillebrandtii Mentha hostii Mentha joffrei Mentha kitaibeliana Mentha lanceolata Mentha lata Mentha latifolia Mentha latissima Mentha laxa Mentha longibracteata Mentha maculata Mentha marrubiastrum Mentha melissifolia Mentha minor Mentha mosana Mentha neesiana Mentha nemorosa Mentha nemorum Mentha nummularia Mentha obtusata Mentha obtuso-dentata Mentha pascuorum Mentha pastoris Mentha pulegiformis Mentha plicata Mentha pumila Mentha rigida Mentha rothii Mentha rotundata Mentha sativa Mentha simplex Mentha scrophulariifolia Mentha segetalis Mentha silvicola Mentha slichoviensis Mentha sparsiflora Mentha subcollina Mentha subcordata Mentha subinodora Mentha tenuicaulis Mentha thayana Mentha uliginosa Mentha verisimilis Mentha viridula Mentha austriaca Mentha pulchella Mentha salebrosa Mentha albae-carolinae Mentha allionii Mentha deflexa Mentha diffusa Mentha arvensis f. subarguta Mentha arvensis f. gallica Mentha jahniana Mentha gintliana Mentha ruralis Mentha arvicola Mentha plagensis Mentha subfontanea Mentha arenaria Mentha collina Mentha ruderalis Mentha divergens Mentha moldavica Mentha arvensis f. pseudoagrestis Mentha arvensis f. hymenophylla Mentha arvensis f. nummularia Mentha arvensis f. pastoritia Mentha arvensis f. sphenophylla Mentha arvensis f. ocymoides Mentha arvensis f. confertidens Mentha arvensis f. neesiana Mentha arvensis f. olynthodos Mentha arvensis f. macrodonta Mentha arvensis f. garonnensis Mentha arvensis f. salebrosa Mentha arvensis f. alverniensis Mentha arvensis f. suecica Mentha arvensis f. campylocormos Mentha praeclara Mentha duftschmidii Mentha lanceolata Mentha arvensis f. lanceolata Mentha x var. obtusata Mentha x var. origanifolia Mentha x var. flexuosa Mentha x var. subrotundifolia Mentha arvensis f. borsodensis Mentha arvensis f. divaricata Mentha arvensis f. regularis Mentha arvensis f. pulegiformis Mentha arvensis f. holubyana Mentha arvensis f. subrotunda Mentha arvensis f. procumbens Mentha dissitiflora Mentha x var. stenodonta Mentha lamprophyllos Mentha arvensis f. arvensis Mentha agrestis Mentha hispidula Calamintha arvensis Mentha lamiifolia Mentha lapponica Mentha tenuifolia Mentha palustris Mentha divaricata Mentha approximata Mentha lata var. agraria Mentha pulchella var. approximata Mentha arvensis subsp. austriaca Mentha arvensis var. cuneifolia Mentha arvensis var. duftschmidii Mentha arvensis subsp. parietariifolia Mentha arvensis var. parietariifolia Mentha arvensis var. pascuorum Mentha arvensis var. praeclara Mentha argutissima var. recedens Mentha lanceolata var. sublanata Mentha agrestis var. subrotunda Mentha arvensis var. agrestis Mentha arvensis subsp. lapponica Mentha arvensis var. deflexa Mentha arvensis subsp. fontana Mentha arvensis var. multiflora Mentha arvensis var. austriaca Mentha arvensis var. diffusa Mentha arvensis var. badensis Mentha arvensis var. melanochroa Mentha arvensis var. obtusifolia Mentha arvensis var. radicans Mentha arvensis var. procumbens Mentha arvensis var. praecox Mentha arvensis var. major Mentha arvensis var. allionii Mentha palustris var. reflexifolia Mentha arvensis var. parviflora Mentha arvensis var. dubia Mentha arvensis var. lanceolata Mentha arvensis var. palitzensis Mentha arvensis var. nobilis Mentha arvensis var. silvicola Mentha arvensis var. fontana Mentha arvensis var. slichoviensis Mentha arvensis var. pegaia Mentha arvensis var. sabranskyi Mentha arvensis var. araiodonta Mentha arvensis var. hostii Mentha arvensis var. argutissima Mentha arvensis var. cryptodonta Mentha arvensis var. foliicoma Mentha arvensis var. varians Mentha arvensis var. axioprepa Mentha arvensis var. diaphana Mentha multiflora var. serpentina Mentha sparsiflora var. pascuorum Mentha hostii var. arvina Mentha argutissima var. subpilosa Mentha fontana var. conferta Mentha fontana var. brevibracteata Mentha slichoviensis var. campicola Mentha slichoviensis var. fossicola Mentha procumbens var. uliginosa Mentha procumbens var. ruralis Mentha procumbens var. ehrhartiana Mentha procumbens var. rigida Mentha procumbens var. salebrosa Mentha procumbens var. segetalis Mentha arvensis var. distans Mentha arvensis var. marrubiastrum Mentha arvensis subsp. sylvatica Mentha arvensis subsp. agrestis Mentha arvensis var. hillebrandtii Mentha arvensis var. sylvatica Mentha arvensis var. riparia Mentha arvensis var. crispa Mentha arvensis var. simplex Mentha arvensis var. subcordata Mentha arvensis var. beckeriana Mentha arvensis var. angustifolia Mentha arvensis var. minor Mentha arvensis var. glabriuscula Mentha arvensis var. campeomischos Mentha arvensis var. domita Mentha arvensis var. approximata Mentha parietariifolia var. ginsiensis Mentha arvensis var. ginsiensis Mentha arvensis var. hispidula Mentha arvensis var. lamprophyllos Mentha austriaca var. salicetorum Mentha arvensis var. salicetorum Mentha arvensis var. stenodonta Mentha arvensis f. durolleana Mentha arvensis f. mutabilis Mentha fochii Mentha arvensis var. illecebrosa Mentha arvensis var. cyrtodonta Mentha arvensis var. arvensis Mentha campicola Mentha parietariifolia Mentha arvensis var. caespitosa Mentha arvensis var. legitima
WorldFloraDB 2024