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 Edit this 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

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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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b c Tucker & Naczi 2006, p. 26.
  2. ^ a b c Borissova 1977, p. 450.
  3. ^ a b "Mentha micrantha (Fisch. ex Benth.) Heinr.Braun". The Plant List. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  4. ^ Harrison 2012, p. 135.
  5. ^ a b c Chambers & Hummer 1994, p. 430.
  6. ^ Harley & Brighton 1977, p. 77.
  7. ^ "Mentha micrantha (Fisch. ex Benth.) Heinr.Braun". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  8. ^ "Mentha micrantha (Fisch. ex Benth.) Heinr.Braun". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  9. ^ Harley & Brighton 1977, p. 73.
  10. ^ Ishmuratova et al. 2020, p. 39.
  11. ^ Ishmuratova et al. 2020, p. 41.

References

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