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Mentha spicata is an herbaceous plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family and it is known as mint.
It is from the European continent, and it is adapted to the climate of Great Britain. The mint we can find cultivated is the hybridization between Mentha aquatica and Mentha spicata: Mentha piperita.
Perennial plant with cuadrangular stem due to the collenchyma cords.
The leaves are simple, opposite and decussate with a rough surface.
Related to the trychomes, they are glabrous; while the underside is pubescent. It is the drug of the plant.
The flowers present a cymose inflorescence just to be more attractive.
They are hermaphrodites, but the androecium can have been reduced and the flowers can be just feminine.
The calyx has 5 sepals which are bell-shaped, campanulate. The corolla is divided into 4 lobes and is more or less actinomorphic.
The petals are purples.
The androecium has 4 stamens that the previous two are longer.
The gynoecium is superior and has two welded carpels, each one which is divided into 2 locular for the formation of a false septum, forming a tetralocular ovary.
The fruit is a tetra-achene called nutlet, which consists in 4 fragmentable indehiscent achenes, each one with a seed.
But we can’t see in naked eye because the calyx is persistent and include four achenes.
Due to the presence of essential oils, it is used as flavoring or perfume. It is very used as an aromatic herb, giving an specific flavor to sweets and toothpaste.
It is also used to elaborate a famous cocktail, the mojito.
In pharmacy, it is used as a digestive, antispasmodic, carminative, antiseptic and analgesic. Moreover, recently a new use has been found, it can be used as a treatment for hirsutism in women.