How do you identify Lamiaceae?
Species in the Lamiaceae are herbs or shrubs with distinctively 4-sided stems. The leaves and stems of many species have a strong scent when crushed. The leaves are opposite or may be arranged in a whorl. The flowers are clustered in whorls at the end of the flowering stalks or in the junctions of leaves and stems.
What is the Latin name for the mint family?
LamiaceaeMints / Scientific name
Lamiaceae, formerly called Labiatae, the mint family of flowering plants, with 236 genera and more than 7,000 species, the largest family of the order Lamiales.
Are all Lamiaceae edible?
Furthermore, many members of the Lamiaceae family are widely cultivated as culinary herbs, such as basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, mint, and sage [12]. Most of them produce edible flowers [13], even if their consumption is lower compared to that of the leaves, generally used as seasonings.
Is thyme a Lamiaceae?
Commonly known as the mint family, and formerly called labiatae, lamiaceae is a huge collection of garden plants that includes 236 genera and over 7,000 species. Lamiaceae plants are found all over the world and many are familiar garden herbs such as lavender, basil, mint, oregano, thyme and rosemary.
Are all mints edible?
No, not every type of mint is safe to eat. Some are grown as trees or shrubs, while others are purely decorative. The best way to tell if it’s edible is by seeing how it smells. For instance, peppermint and spearmint have a strong wintergreen aroma.
What herb smells like mint?
Peppermint geranium, left, and mint rose geranium both smell like mint and provide a great scent for the windowsill. There are nice houseplants called St. John’s mint (Micromeria brownei) and Jamaican peppermint (Satureja viminea).
Where did mint originate from?
Mint of Mentha dates back to Greek mythology where it was grown across expanses of land fields. Mint originated in the Mediterranean and was later introduced to Britain and eventually America.
How do I find my mint family?
Plant Identification, Edible Plants, Weed Ecology, Mushrooms, and more. If you pick a plant with a distinctly square stalk and simple, opposite leaves, then it is very likely a member of the Mint family. Be sure to smell it too, since many species of the family are loaded with aromatic volatile oils.
Are there any toxic members of the mint family?
The Mint family (Lamiaceae) is probably one of the safest in the world. However, several members can be toxic in high dosages or in the case of pregnancy including Creeping Charley (Glechoma hederacea), Perilla (Perilla frutescens), Germander (Teucrium spp.)
Is catnip a nightshade?
Also in Herb Profiles
It is part of the nightshade family, so if you have allergies you may want to avoid this herb.
What Bush smells like mint?
Can we drink mint water daily?
You can drink refreshing mint water all day to stay healthy and hydrated. You may also notice improvements in your digestive system if you favor mint water over other higher calorie beverages.
Is it OK to eat raw mint leaves?
Are the leaves just for flavor or can you eat them? Mint is a member of the Lamiaceae family, consisting of about 15 to 20 species, such as spearmint and peppermint, all of which are perfectly fine to eat raw or cooked. Mint leaves are a favored herb that people use, dried or fresh in many dishes and infusions.
What herb smells like Vicks VapoRub?
VicksPlant (Plectranthus tomentosa), is a perennial plant with leaves that smell like Vicks VapoRub or mentholatum when crushed. The leaves can be steeped in boiling water to vaporize the characteristic oils which are then inhaled, helping to clear nasal and respiratory passages.
What herb smells like black licorice?
Answer: Anise (Pimpinella anisum), an herb native to the Mediterranean region which has a strong licorice scent and the flowers are like those of the blue hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), a European native with many old world medicinal uses.
What did Egyptians use mint for?
The ancient Egyptian Ebers Papyrus from 1550 BC, describes mint as a digestive and a therapy to treat flatulence. In ancient Greece and Rome, the sweet smell of mint was used in funerary rites and to scent the body.
Who first used mint?
The herb has been used as a remedy for indigestion since ancient Egyptian times. In fact, dried peppermint leaves were found in Egyptian pyramids dating back to 1000 b.c. The ancient Greeks and Romans valued it as a stomach soother.
What kind of mint has purple flowers?
Catmints have purple flowers, and they are one of the most widely used, drought-tolerant perennials. They are great in flower borders with organic mulch or rock, and do not need to be irrigated once established.
Are all mint family edible?
One group of Mints that are not in the Mentha genus are the native Mountain Mints (Pycnanthemum spp.). The Mint family also contains the wild edible/medicinals Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea), All Heal (Prunella vulgaris), Skullcap (Scutellaria spp.) and Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis).
Which mint is poisonous?
Perilla mint
Farming. Perilla mint is highly toxic when consumed by cattle, other ruminants, and horses. The entirety of the plant is toxic, with the flowering structures being especially potent. Perilla mint is more likely to be consumed in the fall, because of a seasonal decrease in forage availability.
What does mint do to cats?
A few forms of mint, such as the pennyroyal, can cause very severe effects within the body including liver failure. Cats with existing liver, intestine or bowel disease are at a heightened risk of developing complications after ingesting mint. Contact with mint may cause skin irritation in hypersensitive cats.
Can humans eat catnip?
and Warnings. Catnip is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken by mouth in small amounts. Cupful amounts of catnip tea have been consumed without serious side effects. However, catnip is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when smoked or taken by mouth in high doses (many cups of catnip tea, for example).
What does catnip do to cats brains?
Researchers suspect that catnip targets feline “happy” receptors in the brain. When eaten, however, it tends to have the opposite effect and your cat mellows out. Most cats react to catnip by rolling, flipping, rubbing, and eventually zoning out. They may meow or growl at the same time.
Are any mint plants poisonous to humans?
Is it OK to boil mint leaves?
Steep mint leaves in boiling water for a few minutes and add lemon and honey for extra flavor and health benefits.