Mentha is a genus of plants in the family Lamiaceae. There is no exact distinction between species; there could be anywhere from 13 to 24 different species of mint. It is especially difficult due to hybrids which occur naturally due to species overlap and the menthas fast growth. Due to this in this report "Mentha" will refer to the genus, additionally, the topic of uses for mint has been avoided completely, as going through the many uses for mint would be tiresome.
Mentha grow best in wet environments and moist soil, however they can be planted with minimal care in most places. When unchecked mentha tends to spread, because of this, some mentha are considered invasive.
Mentha is an aromatic herb. They usually have wide spreading underground and over-ground root like stems called stolons and square branched stems. The leaves are usually arranged in opposite pairs, often downy and with a serrated margin. The color of the leaf can range from dark green, gray-green, purple, blue and sometimes pale yellow.
As said previously, the mentha genus has a problem with naming all the species of mint, more than 3,000 names have been published in the genus Mentha. These names range from forms to species, the majority of which are regarded as synonyms or "Illegitimate names". The taxonomy of the genus is difficult due to the species overlap previously talked about.
Mentha can tolerate a wide range of environments, though they thrive near pools of water, lakes, rivers, and cool moist spots in partial shade and grow all year round. Due to the mentha's rapid growth, one plant of the desired mint will provide more than enough for home use. It's best to take plant cutting form the runners of healthy mint if you want more than one plant.
The most common or popular mins include: Peppermint, Native spearmint, Scotch spearmint, cornmint and more recently apple mint. Mentha makes a good "companion plant" meaning they repel harmful insects while attracting beneficial ones. Because mentha grow all year round they can be harvested all year round.
In conclusion, the mentha genus is a nightmare to taxonomize, in one occasion a taxonomist published 434 new mentha taxa for Central Europe alone between 1911 and 1916. Most species are considered invasive and they grow in virtually any condition. They produce fast and all year round, help with pests without the need for most pesticides and have many uses.
"Mentha - New World Encyclopedia." https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Mentha.
"Plants Profile for Mentha (mint)." https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=MENTH.
"Mentha - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics." https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/mentha.
"How to Grow and Care for Mint - The Spruce." https://www.thespruce.com/growing-mint-1402628.
"Mentha: A genus rich in vital nutra-pharmaceuticals-A review." https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31286590/.
