MENTHA BRITANNIC^: A NEW BOTANICAL ARRANGEMENT OF THE BRITISH MINTS. ILLUSTRATED WITH 24 COPPER-PLATES. BY W. SOLE. MENTILE BRITANNICiE: BEING A NEW BOTANICAL ARRANGEMENT THE BRITISH MINTS HITHERTO DISCOVERED. ILLUSTRATED WITH TWENTY-FOUR COPPER-PLATES, OF THE NATURAL SIZE, Done from the Life by able Artists; EXHIBITING A FIGURE OF EVERY DISTINCT MINT HEREIN TREATED OF, Including all those enumerated by RAY and HUDSON ; TOGETHER WITH SEVERAL NEW SPECIES HITHERTO UNNOTICED. BY W. SOLE. BATH, PRINTED BY R. CRUTTWELL; AND SOLD Bf MESSRS. WHITE, FLEET-STREET, LONDON; BULL AND CO. AND J. B AR R ATT, BATH; GILBERT, DUBLIN: H AN W ELL, OXFORD; AND HODSON, CAMBRIDGE. PREFACE. It is well known and agreed to by Botanifts, that the Mints Hill remain in great confufion and obfcurity, owing chiefly to the fcarcity of good and faithful figures; and it is wonderful, amidft all our modern improvements in Botany, that no new plates of this very ufeful and beautiful tribe have been given, at leaft none that are capital; yet fuch is the intricacy and fportivenefs of this family, that it is impof- fible for a verbal defcription alone to define them without the aid of juft and accurate figures to refer to. Perhaps the reafon why we have fo few of thefe, may be owing to the difficulty, labour, and tedioufnefs, in the execution of them, their flowers being fo numerous, and their component parts fo minute. Fuschius's plates, altho' they are in general rude and Gothick, corre- fponding to the times in which he lived, are fome of them very good, par- ticularly his M. Hortenfis prima, our Sativa; and his M. Hortenfis fecunda, our Rotundifolia. His other three are but indifferent, I might fay bad. John Bauhine's figures are on too fmall a fcale to convey any proper idea of the plants, excepting only his Mentajlrum gravi odore, which is indeed a mafter-piece of thofe times, and worthy of admiration ; and perhaps not to be excelled by artifts of the prefent day. a Mathiolus VI PREFACE. Mathiolus alfo has a neat figure of Calamintha aquatica, our Arvenfis ; and Lobel has another of the fame, but from a different habitat, which has equal, if not greater merit. On the other hand, Lobel's Mcnthaftrum (evidently intended for our Villofa) is fo ambiguous, that fome authors have made it their Menthajirum longifolium, and fome again their Men- thafirum rotundifolium. Ray, in his Cat. Plant, p. 198, has the following urifrure on this figure, quoting it from Gerard and Parkinson, (which are both copies of Lobel) to his Menthajirum longifolium: — " Figurte enim nullo modo " corrueniunt;" — and then immediately after quotes the fame figures to his Menthajirum rotundifolium with an interrogation, being very doubtful which they are meant for. And what is rather pleafant, Hill has copied it in his plates with this plain Englifh title — " horse-mint;" forgetting to tell us whether long-leaved or round-leaved horfe-mint* However, it is plain that it is meant for the long-leaved, by the deep faw- teeth of the leaves; for their Me?2thajlrum rotundifolium (Sylv. nojl.) is crenated rather than ferrated. Fuschius's figure, copied by J. Bauhine, is as bad, if not worfe, than Lobel's. Morrison's figure is fomething better, but Mrs. Black- well's is very indifferent. * 1 would not be underflood as implying any cenfure on Hiil, as he was in my opinion*"^ beft Engliih Botanitfof his time, and, had he applied himfelf to the fubjea, was well qualified to have explained it; but as he thought it perhaps an objeft which was not likely to attraft notice, he followed the confideration of his Bardana, which eventually proved moil produdive. He was certainly a great genius, but his imagination was diverted by following too many purfuits. Added PREFACE. VII Added to the inaccuracy of the plates now extant, another caufe con- tributes no fmall matter to the prefent confufion, that is, the deficiency ia number; Linnaeus having allowed us but ten mints, whereas our im- mortal Ray, after having defcribed no lefs than fixteen, with all that pleafant candour fo peculiar to him, finifhes the fubjecl: with this re- mark — " Mentharum valde ferax eft Anglia noftra, nam prater /pedes de novo " hie additas, queituor alia peculiaribus nominibus recenfentur a Merretto " in Fin. et plures prater has turn a D. Buddle, turn a D. Rand obfervata " funt. Sed cum de iis nobis nondum fatis conftet, ulteriori eas obfervationi " relinquere necejfe habuimus." This is a fufficient proof that Ray thought the field of Englifh mints far from being exhaufted. Xournefort feems to have found all Ray's plants in France, and defcribes them with little or no variation. Sir John Hill, in his B. H. has only copied Ray, and thrown no new light on the fubjecl. Our late eminent Englifh botanift, Mr. Hudson, whofe lofs will be long regretted, appears to have been well acquainted with all Ray's plants; and, obferving that Linnjeus had to- tally unnoticed many of them, and unwilling to have them left in ob- fcurity, has, in his fecond edition, introduced them as varieties, fome in one place, and fome in another. The attempt was certainly laudable, but it was not fuccefsful, having tended only to increafe the entanglement. Upon the whole, then, it is very obvious to all who are any ways con- verfant with the fubjecl, that an entire new fet of good plates of the mints is much wanted ; nor, indeed, can any frefh illuftration of them be given without ; viii PREFACE. without; and, as I have always been of opinion that good plates are in- jured by colouring, I have endeavoured to procure fuch plates as need no colouring; my intention in this eflay being not only to give fuch plates as will bear future references, but, at the fame time, to harmonize all the prefent difcordant quotations that fo often occur both in Linnaeus and Hudson, and to adduce every quotation in its right place, that the tyro may be no longer puzzled by contradictions ; but, on the contrary, be enabled to find out his plant quick and to a certainty; for which reafon I have, in all the abftrufer mints, given a difcriminating charac- teriftick, to facilitate his refearch, and to prevent his remaining in doubt. I have nothing to add, but that I wifh this humble attempt to illuf- trate the mints, may ftimulate fome abler Botanift to purfue the fubjeff, and render it more compleat. Having no coadjutor to affift me, it is probable there may be many errors and miftakes ; and I fhall be very thankful for any communications that may be made to me, pointing them out ; that, in cafe a future edition fhould be called for, I may be enabled to make it more perfect; unlefs (as I hinted above) an abler hand fhould take up the fubject. W. S. BATH, JULY 13, 1798. » MENTHA BRITANNICiE. SERIES PRIMA. MENTHA SPICATjE. 1. Mentha villofa prima. 2. fecunda. 3. fylveftris. 4. rotundi folia. 5. viridis. 6. paluftris. 7. piperita officinalis. 8. piperita fyhejiris. To render the Mints lefs difficult to find out, Linnasus has very judici- oufly divided them into three feries or fortments, viz. 1. Spiked Mints. 2. Round-headed Mints. 3. Whirled Mints. BRITISH MINTS. SERIES THE FIRST. SPIKED MINTS: Confifting of fuch Mints as produce their flowers in long flender fpikes at the tops of the ftalks and branches. This feries contains the follow- ing eight Mints : r. Long-leaved Horfe-Mint. 2. Common Horfe-Mint. 3. Strong-fcented Mint. 4. Round-leaved Mint. 5. Spear-Mint. 6. Marfli-Mint. 7. True Pepper-Mint. 8. Wild Pepper-Mint. Explanation of the small Figures at the bottom of the Plates. a The BlofTom, Calix, and Style, of their natural fize. b The fame magnified. c The Calix magnified. d The Corolla magnified and laid open, to difplay the length of the Stamens. e A Calix magnified and laid open, to exhibit the four naked feeds at the bottom of it. PL. I. MENTHA SPICAT^. 3 i. MENTHA VILLOSA PRIMA. [Long-leaved Horfe-Mint.] Mentha fpicis oblongis, brafteatis, foliis feffilibus lanceolatis ferratis acutis tomentofis incanis, venulis reticulatis, ftaminibus corolla brevi- oribus; odore hircino. Difc. bralieis longis. Mentaftrum. Fufch. p. 295, ico. Menthaftrum fpicatum folio longiore candicante. J. B. iii. p. 222. ico. Fuf. Ray. Syn. 234. No. v. Ray. Hift. PI. i. p. 532. Blackjione Spec. Bot. p. 5 2 . Deering Cat. Not. p. 143. Mentha fylveftris longiore folio. C. B. Pin. 227. Mor. H. O. i. p. 368. ico. Map. PI. Alfat. p. 193. Mentha, xvii fount. Injiit. Mentha floribus pallidis folio longo candicante. Hit. B. H. 353. Mentha fylveftris. Lin. Sp. PL p. 804. (folia albida.) Habitat in palujiribus et fojjis, fed rarius. 1. LONG-LEAVED 4 SPIKED MINTS. PL. I. i. LONG-LEAVED HORSE-MINT. THIS is a tall elegant plant, ufually growing four feet or more in height; its leaves are long, acuminated, ferrated and feffile, embracing the ftalk, they are woolly and hoary on the under fide, and green and hairy on the upper fide; the veins of the leaves form a beautiful net-work, equally vifible on both fides. The ftalks are quadrangular, hoary, and upright, terminating in neat (lender fpikes of flowers, compofed of fmall rundles, with long, narrow, confpicuous, brafteal leaves under each rundle. The flowers are very fmall for the fize of the plant, and are of a beautiful pale lilac colour. The ftamens are always fhorter than the flower, and cannot be feen but when the bloffbm is quite expanded.* It blolToms the laft week in July, and the whole plant has a difagreeable goatifh minty fmell. It is met with in ditches under hedges, and about mill-dams, and in obfolete water-courfes, but is not common. I obferved it in a lane going from Littlebury to Lord Howard's on the left hand, and in a mill-dam at Matlock; and the wild fpecimen from which this plate was done, I found in a clofe at Box, Wilts, called Box-Lays. * Linnseus and Haller both make it a leading feature in this plant, that the ftamens are longer than the flower; but as I have never yet found it fo, either in its wild or cultivated flate, I durft not adopt either of their defcriptions. 2. MENTHA F/: 2 TAB. II. MENTHA SPICAT.3J. 5 2. MENTHA VILLOSA SECUNDA. Mentha fpica oblonga, foliis feffilibus, ovato-lanceolatis acutis villous. Hud. Flo. An. p. 259. fguibus notis addi potest, ftaminibus corolla brevioribus. Menthaftrum. Math. p. 527. ico. Mentaftrum. Label, icon. p. 509. Mentaftrum. Ger. em. p. 684. icone Lob. Mentaftrum hortenfe. Park. p. 33. ico. Lob. Mentha fylveftris longioribus nigrioribus et minus incanis. C. B.Pin.p. 127. Mentha fylveftris candicans odore fativi. Doody. Mentha fpicata. ii, iii R. Syn. p. 233, 234. Mentha, xv T'ourn. Inft. Menthaftrum. Blackwell H. p. 292. ico. Mentha, x, xi Hill, B. H. p. 354, 355. Difc. Spicis denjioribus obfolete braBeatis, foliis fuperne glabrioribus, inferne villofis; cattle rubefcente, odore M. viridis.. Habitat in locis ttliginofis. 2. COMMON 6 SPIKED MINTS. PL. II. 3. COMMON HORSE-MINT. THIS Mint grows about three feet in height, the Italics are quadran- gular, hairy, and green, turning reddifh as the fummer advances; they are moderately branched, which, as well as the ftalks, all terminate in oblong thick-let fpikes of flowers, of a white palifh-red colour; the ftamens of which are always fhorter than the bloffom. The leaves are feffile, oblong, and pointed, deeply fcerrated round the edges, and are of a blackifh-green colour on the upper fide, and hoary and villofe underneath; they are deeply furrowed or wrinkled, fomething like green fage. The whole plant fmells much like fpear-mint. This plant differs from the foregoing, in its leaves not being near fo hoary, long, and acuminated; in its fpikes being fhorter and more denfe, infomuch, that the braftea appear like hairs between the flowers, not long and foliaceous as in that, and does not bloflbm before the middle of Auguft ; yet it is probably only a variety of the foregoing: but as it has, after the cultivation of it for more than twenty years in my garden, maintained its diftinclions, I thought it beft to give a figure of it; being of opinion, that where varieties are permanent, it is better to defcribethem apart, than to crowd them in with a fi. y. &c. For it is very confufing to a tyro in particular, to fee in the fame plant one author defcribing it with long acuminate hoary leaves, fmelling like a goat, &C; and another faying, the leaves are broad and fmooth; and a third faying, it fmells finely of fpear- mint : — he of courfe becomes puzzled, and gives the matter up. I have moreover the fanction of Ray, Tournefort, and Hill, who have all acled as precedents in the fame manner. This variety is much more common than the foregoing, being to be met with in moft home-clofes, about farmers' bartons, and fuch places. I obferved it by the water-fide at Bottifham-Load mill, Cambridgefhire, and in a home-clofe of an inn at Hillington, Middlefex, and frequently under hedges in Hertfordfhire. This and the preceding both poffefs fimilar qualities to the M. fyfoejlris, and have always been promifcuoufly ufed for that ; but the powers of the fylveftris being much more eminent, it ought always to be preferred, when- ever it can be procured. TAB. III. MENTHiB SPICATJE. 7 3. MENTHA SYLVESTRIS. Mentha fpicis oblongis, foliis rugofis feflilibus lanuginofis crenato-dentatis, inferioribus oblongis obtnfis, fuperioribus rotundatis, venulis reticulatis, ftaminibus corolla longioribus. Mentha fylveftris prima rotundiore folio. C. B. Pin. p. 227. Map. Alfat. p. 193. Tour/!. Infi. No. i. Menthaftrum folio rugofo rotundiore, fpontaneum, flore fpicato.odore gravi. J. B. Hijl. iii. p. 219. cum ico. pmjlantijjima. R. Syn. p. 234. Deer. Cat. Not. p. 144. Blacks. Sp. Bot. p. 53. Hil/.B.H.p. 353. Menthaftrum valde ramofum flore violaceo rubro. Mer. Pin. p. 77. Mentaftrum rotundifolium minus. Park. p. 34. Menthaftrum. No. ix. Mor. H. Ox. p. 368. Mentha rotundifolia. Lin. Sp. P. p. 805. Hud. F. A. p. 25 1 . Menthaftrum officinale. Mat. Med. Antiq. Habitat in aggeribus et ruderatis. Nafcitur in locis idiginojis. B Menthaftrum niveum anglicum. Label, icon. p. 510. Ger. cm. p. 684. ico. Lob. Menthaftrum fpicatum, folio crifpo, colore partim albo, partim cinerco, vel virente. J. B. iij. p. 219. Mentha fpicata folio variegato. C. B. Pin. p. 227. ■ ; — Tour 11. Injl. No. xii. 3. STRONG 8 SPIKED MINTS. PL. III. 3. STRONG-SCENTED MINT. THIS plant grows from two feet and half to three feet in height; its {talks are quadrangular, hairy, upright, and very much branched with flowering-fprigs elegantly difpofed, each fprig generally terminating in three (and fometimes more) beautiful flender fpikes, of whitifh-red flowers, which are fo expanded that the ftamens with their little red an- thers or chives are always in fight, and are longer than the flower j the leaves are wrinkled and downy underneath, and are fleeker and of a dark green above, the veins are neatly reticulated, and obvious on both fides ; the lower leaves are oblong and blunt, the upper leaves are roundifh; they are feffile, and are crenated rather than dentated. It has a very ftrong volatile mixed fmell of volatile fait of amber, camphor, and mint. This is the true Menthaflrum, or wild Horfe-Mint of the {hops. It is now and then found spontaneous in muddy places in high moors ; for instance, on a common at Elsmoor, Shropshire, but it is very rare: yet as an honourable relict of our venerable Gothick ruins, it is very common; as in a close called the Abbey -Warren, at llinton-Abbey in Somerset; in the environs of Abbey-Tintern, S. Wales; at Ragland- Castle, ditto; in a close called the Abbots-Garden, at Glastonbury-Abbey ; in a high mea- dow near Berkeley-Castle ; at Wenlock- Abbey, Salop; at the ruins of an old abbey, or castle, (I forget which) near the strand at Holly well i and observed by Mr.Blackstone, in Harefield church-yard, and by Dr. Deering, in the neighbourhood of Nottingham-Castle. Thefe habitats fufficiently evince, that the powers of this plant were well underftood by the Monks, who were in their days the principal phyficians; and this knowledge (as foon as literature begin to revive in Europe) was eafily acquired from the works of the Arabian phyficians, particularly Rhafes, who made great ufe of this plant. Be this as it may, it certainly is a plant of great virtue, and deferves to be better known than it is at pre- fent, being an excellent cephalic, antihyfteric, ecphraftic, and cardiac fimple. I have found it of great ufe in cafes of epilepfy, and chlorofis; the latter cafe it moft commonly cures in two or three months. I cannot fay it has ever cured epilepfy, but it wonderfully refreflies the brain, reftores the me- mory, and takes off the dull ftupid languor occafioned by thofe fits. My mode of giving it is this: — Take six drachms of fine powder, made from the green leaves and flower spikes, hastily dried, and with a sufficient quantity of syrup of orange- peel make an electuary ; the quantity oj a nutmeg to be taken morning, noon, and night, washing it down with a wine-glass of tea made with the same green herb in summer, and of the dried herb in winter. In all cases before I enter upon the use of if, I premise an emetic of Ipecacuanha powder, and a scruple of Pit. Rufi, in four pills, to be taken after the emetic the same night. TAB. IV. MENTHA SPICATjE. 9 4. MENTHA ROTUNDIFOLIA. Mentha fpicis oblongis denfis, brafteis longis filiformibus, floribus rubris, foliis feffilibus fubrotundis rugofis dentatis villofis, ' nervis tranfverfis, venulis reticulatis, ftaminibus corolla sequalibus, caule. erefto hirfuto, Mentha viridis odore. Mentha hortenfis. ii Fufch. ico. ion. Mentaftrum fpicatum cultum, folio rotundiore rugofo. J. B. Hiji. iii. p. 218. Mentha rotundifolia fpicata altera. C. B. Pin. p. 227. Sifymbrium hortenfe. Math. p. 378. ico. Fufch. Sifymbria Mentha agreftis. Lob. icon. p. 508. ico. Fufch. Mentha fpicata altera. Ger. em. p. 681. ico. Fufch. Mentha fylveftris rotundiore folio, purpureo flore. Tourn. Inft. No. ii. Reperitur in aquofis in Cantio et EJfexia, fed rarius. Augufto floret. D 4. ROUND- 10 SPIKED MINTS. PL. IV. 4 . ROUND-LEAVED MINT. THIS wild Mint grows to the height of three feet and upwards; its Italic is quadrangular, large, very hairy, upright, and not much branched, terminating in very large thickfet fpikes of flowers of a bright-red colour; the bra&eals are like hairs, and project fo much above the flowers as to give the fpike a ftrong refemblance of a fox's tail. The leaves are feffile, almofl: round, and deeply ferrated; they are of a dark-green colour, wrinkled, and hairy; the nerves of the leaves run tranf- verfely, and the veins are reticulated; the ftamens with their beautiful red anthers, being equal to the blofibm in length, appear in fight when the flower expands. The fmell of this plant refembles that of fpear-mint, but is not fo fragrant. I believe this plant is very rare, as I have never yet met with it fponta- neous. It was given me eighteen years ago by that very eminent botanift, W. Aiton, efq; (late botanic gardener to his Majefty) who, at the fame time, informed me, that it had been fent to him by a correfpondent who had found it both in Kent and Eflex. It flowers in Auguft. TAB. V. MENTHA SPICATjE. 11 5. MENTHA VIRIDIS. Mentha fpicis oblongis, foliis lanceolatis nudis ferratis feffilibus, ftamini- bus corolla longioribus. Lin. Sp. PI. p. 804. Mentha fpicis folitariis interruptis, foliis lanceolatis ferratis feffilibus. Hort. Clif. p. 306. Mentha prima. Math. p. 506. ico. Mentha hortenfis. iii Fufch. p. 290. ico. Mentha fpicata, folio longo, acuto, glabro, nigriore. J. B. Hiji. iii. p. 220. ico. Mentha romana ofHcinarum, five prasftantior anguftifolia. Lobel.icon.p. 507. Mentha romana. Ger. em. p. 680. ico. Lob. Mentha anguftifolia fpicata. C. B. Pin. p. 227. R. HiJl. PL torn. i. p. 532. Tourn. Inji. M. xiii. ■ Mor. H. O. felt. xi. tab. vi. f. 1. Lewis. Mat. Med. Mentha fpicata vulgaris. Hill. B. Hp. 353. Mentha fativa. Blackwell. H. p. 290. ico. Mentha viridis. Hud. F. A. p. 250. Latioribus aliam, aliam angujlijpmis et longijfimis foliis in hortis obfervavi- mus. C. B. Habitat in aquojis et ad ripas fuirorum. Augufto floret. 5. SPEAR 12 SPIKED MINTS. PL. V. 5. SPEAR-MINT. THIS plant grows about three feet in height ; its ftalk is quadran- gular, upright, fmooth, and of a bright green colour, being neatly branched with upright fprigs, which terminate in elegant long fpikes of flowers, which are of a bright-red colour, dotted here and there with white fpecks in the infide; the ftamens, tipped with beautiful red knobs, are longer than the bloffom. The leaves are long, narrow, acuminated, and deeply ferrated, and fit- ting on the ftalk; they are of a grafs-green colour, and perfectly fmooth on both fides; the nerves are white, and the veins obfcurely reticulated; the whole plant has a moft fragrant and refrefhing fmell. Its red bloffoms, fmooth leaves, and eminent ftamens, fufficiently diftinguifh it from the villofa's. Ray and Hill, neither of them finding it wild, treat it as an exotic; but our great Mafter, Linnaeus, boldly fays, habitat in Anglia; and Hudfon has quoted feveral habitats in his ingenious work Flo. Aug. and I have found it fpontaneous in a common between Glaftonbury and Wells; and the plant which produced the fpecimen for this plate, I brought home ten years ago from a wild habitat in the meadows four miles out of Bath, where it flou- rifhes to this day in an old water-grip, intermixed with M. aquatica, &c. It alfo grows in various places by the fide of the Avon between Bath and Kelfton. It flowers in Auguft. The virtue of this excellent plant, as a cephalic, stomachic, and febrifuge, are so well established by the concurrent testimony of many ages, as to maintain its consequence and repute even at this time, when herbs in general are so unfortunately, and, I may say, unjustly repudiated, that it needs not to be enlarged on here. TAB. VI. MENTHJE SPICATJE. 13 6. MENTHA PALUSTRIS. Mentha fpicis oblongis interruptis, foliis latis ovatis acutis, ferratis, hir- futis, inferioribus oblongis ; nervis rubefcentibus, ftaminibus corolla brevioribus; caule ere&o hirfuto; odore hircino. Mentha paluftris folio oblongo. C. B. Pin. p. 228. M or . jj_ Ox. p. ^bg.feff. xi. tab. vii./. 4. Menthaftri aquatici genus hirfutum fpica latiora. J. B. Hijl. iii. p. 222. ho. R. Syn.p. 234. Calamintha iii. Diafcoridis Menthaftrifolia aquatica hirfuta. Lob. icon. p. 510. Menthaftrum minus. Ger. em. p. 685. ico. Lob. Mentha xviii. Tourn. Inji. Mentha foliis cinereis latioribus, fpica craffa. Hill. B. H. p. 353. M. xii. Mentha fylveftris, /3. Hud. F. A. p. 25 1 . Habitat in fojjis et paludibm. Floret in Septembn. E 6. MARSH 1* SPIKED MINTS. PL. VI. 6. MARSH MINT. THIS Mint grows about three feet in height; its ftalk is quadrangular, hairy, upright, and but little branched; of a brownifti red colour, termi- nating in three broad fpikes of flowers of a pleafant red colour ; the upright fpike being much larger than the collateral ones ; the ftamens are fhorter than the bloffom, and hid from view. The leaves ftand on footftalks ; they are broad, hairy, ferrated, and pointed, and are of a greyifli colour ; the lower leaves are oblong, but from the middle of the ftalk upwards they are ovate. The whole plant has a goatifh-minty fmell. It grows in old ditches at Glaftonbury, Wedmore, Birtle, and King's- Sedge moors, Somerfet, plentifully. It does not blow until the beginning of September, and fometimes later. TAB. VII. MENTHA SPICAT.ffi. 7. MENTHA PIPERITA OFFICINALIS. 15 Mentha fpicis oblongis interruptis, foliis lanceolatis glabrioribus argute ferratis petiolatis, ftaminibus corolla squantibus caule ere£to fufco, odore piperis gratiflimo. Mentha faxifraga anguftiore folio, fpicato, fapore acri fervido. Pluk. Aim. p. 129. Mentha piperata acuta. Petiv. H. B. tab. xiii. f. 10. Pepper-Mint with acuminated leaves. Lewis. Mat. Med. Mentha piperitis. Blachwell. H. p. 291. ico. Difc. Floribus fpicatis foliis lanceolatis. Nafcitur in locis udis et aquofts. Augufto floret. (pT Menth. pip. fylv. Vide Tab. xxiv. 7. TRUE 16 SPIKED MINTS. PL. VII. 7. TRUE PEPPER-MINT. THIS plant grows from three feet to three and a half in height; its ftalks are fquare, firm, upright, not much branched, and of a brownifh red colour, terminating in beautiful long fpikes of pale-red flowers ; the three or four lowermoft whirles are interrupted, or fomewhat diftant, in the fame manner as in the fpear-mint ; the ftamens are juft equal to the bloffom, and in fight when that is expanded. The leaves are long, nar- row, acuminated, fharply ferrated, ftanding on footftalks, and are of a very dark-green colour; and when viewed on the under fide through a common pocket magnifying-glafs, in the fun or by candle-light, innume- rable bright filver fpangles are difplayed all over the furface, which perhaps is its effential oil. All the Mints exhibit fomething of this kind, but none in fo eminent a degree as this does. The calix is ftill fuller of thofe fpangles than the leaves. I conclude it is from thefe fpangles or gems, (whether they be effential fait, or effential oil of the plant, let better judges determine) that it derives its virtues in cafes of ftone and gravel; for which purpofes, in Plukenet's time, it was in fo high efteem as to gain the title of Saxifraga ; and its fingular efficacy as a carmi- native is well known in all families. This plant grows fpontaneoufly in a fwampy place on Lanfdown called the Wells, it being the fpring-head of Locks-brook. It is alfo found by the fide of the Avon in Newton-Mead. The whole plant has a very grateful poignant tafte and fmell of pepper. It blows in the middle of Auguft. MENTHA BRITANNICJE. SERIES SECUNDA. MENTHA CAPITATE, five SISYMBRIA. 1. Mentha piperita vulgaris. 2. odorata. 3. aquatica minor. 4. aquatica major. F BRITISH MINTS. SERIES THE SECOND. ROUND-HEADED or WATER MINTS. Confifting of fuch Mints as produce their flowers in round heads at the tops of the ftalks and branches. This feries contains the following four Mints : 1. Common Pepper-Mint. 2. Burgamot-Mint. 3. Leffer Water-Mint. 4. Great Water-Mint, and its varieties. TAB. VIII. MENTH-ffi CAPITATJE. 8. MENTHA PIPERITA VULGARIS. Mentha fpicis capitatis, foliis ovatis ferratis petiolatis, ftaminibus corolla brevioribus. Lin. Sp. P. p. 805. Mentha piperita. Hud. F. A. p. 251. Mentha fpicis brevioribus et habitioribus, foliis Mentha: fufcae, fapore fervido piperis. Ray. Syn. p. 234. Mentha piperata obtufa. Pet. H. Br. tab. x'm. Jig. 11. Wll. B. H. 353. Warner. PI. Woodf. p. 98. In aquofis et fcrobibus humentibui reperitur. Septembn floret. 8. ROUND- 20 ROUND-HEADED MINTS. PL. VIII. 8. COMMON PEPPER-MINT. The stalk of this plant is fquare, wreathed, or bending; it is of a reddifh- brown colour, a little hairy, much branched, and grows two feet and a half in height; the branches, as well as the main ftalk, terminate in ob- long, ^ and very often, round heads of flowers, which are of a beautiful purplifh-red colour: the collateral branches bending and wreathing in perfeft unifon with the main ftalk, give the plant a very animated and graceful mein, exhibiting at firft glance a total contrail: to the foregoing. The leaves ftand on fhort foot-ftalks; they are ovate, ferrated, and (lightly hairy j the ftamens are fhorter than the blofloms ; the calix is fprinkled with the fame fort of fpangles as that of the foregoing, but the leaves are not fo loaded with them as the leaves of the former. The whole plant has a very agreeable fmell and flavour of pepper and mint, but is not fo piquant as the foregoing ; it neverthelefs make a very pleafant pepper- mint water when diftilled green ; but the former is the right plant for drying for the ufe of the fliops. I have found it fpontaneous in various watery places about Bath, and between Wells and Glaftonbury, alfo in Chittern-bottom, Wilts. It does not blow until the middle of September in general. Mr. Hay's Artist, who perhaps lived at a distance, and after drawing the first lines of this plant, I suppose look it home with him to finish by memory at leisure, (which is too often the case) by which means he has made a centaur of it, having placed the head of common water-mint on the shoulders of the spiked pepper-mint! the leaves of which are done to admiration, and consequently in Mr. Ray's presence, who, it is universally known, was excedmgly accurate. Barrellieri's Artist has committed the same blunder of putting styles for stamens, and vice versa, Sfc. for which reason that neat collection of Spanish and Italian plants is ren- dered of no value now. Indeed there is this to be said for both, that the sexual system was not known at that time, of course the drawing-masters were not so attentive to the number of stamens and styles as the present system requires. TAB. IX. MENTHA CAPITATE. 21 9. MENTHA O DO RATA. Mentha floribus capitatis, foliis ovatis ferratis glabrioribus petiolatis, nervis ramofis rubris, caule rubro glabriore, ftaminibus corolla bre- vioribus; odore gratiflimo. Mentha balfamita vel latifolia odorata, diutiflime durat odor ejus fuavifli- mus. Mer. Pin. p. 77. ? Mentha fifymbrium dicla hirfuta, glomerulis ac foliis minoribus ac ro- tundioribus, odor valde gratus et aromaticus mala aurantia plane semulans. R. Syn. p. 233. tab. x. Jig. 1. Mentha odorata flore cinericeo. R. Syn. PL dub. Mentha rotundifolia fpicata altera. Mor. H. O. feB. xi. tab. vi.Jig. 3. Mentha aquatica hirfuta foliis minoribus. Hill. B. H. p. 352. Mentha aquatica, y. Hud. F. A. p. 252. Habitat in paludibus et aquofu, fed rarius. Rub Jinem Julii floret. G 9. BERGAMOT ROUND-HEADED MINTS. Pt. IX. 9. BERGAMOT MINT. THE ftalk of this Mint is quadrangular, almoft fmooth, of a mahogany colour, much branched, and grows about two feet high, terminating in a large round head of flowers, and two collateral heads at the joint below it; the collateral branches alfo all terminate in a head of flowers, which are of a light red colour; the leaves ftand on fhort footftalks, they are concave, ovate, and ferrated; the nerves and very often the under fides of the leaves are red ; the ftamens are fhorter than the bloffoms : the whole plant has a moft agreeable fmell of Bergamot. The heads are not ftriaiy globular, but are a little deprefled at the tops: this pint correfponds in every thing to Linnasus's aquatica, but in the ftamens being fhorter than the bloffom. The late Mrs. Walmfley, of Bath, when I (hewed her this Mint as a curi- ofity in the year 1772, informed me that it was very common by river- fides and brooks in Chefhire, particularly in the neighbourhood of her father's houfe, (Afton-honfc) and that it was well known there by the name of Water-Mint. I found my plant in a fmall brook or ditch near Capel-Caree, between Llandrooft and Llanberrys, North- Wales. Morrifon has thrown great light on this plant by giving us two figures of it, one fmooth like his and mine, and one hairy like Ray's: it is well known that the difference of foil conflitutes this difference. Both Morri- fon and Ray's figures exhibit the ftamens longer than the bloffoms ; but as neither of them mention any thing of this, I am inclined to think it is owing to an error of the artift, who has drawn ftamens for ftyles, as in Ray's pepper-mint; and this appears (till more likely to be the cafe, as in looking wiftly into them we find but one ftamen in each bloffom, which ought to contain four, with a fingle bifid ftyle in the midft of them, of which there is no appearance. TAB. X. MENTHA CAPITATjE. 23 10. MENTHA AQUATIC A MINOR. Mentha floribus capitatis, foliis ovatis ferratis fubfeffilibus pubefcentibus ftaminibus corolla longioribus. Lin. Syji. Nat. p. 392, No. xv. Mentha aquatica, five Sifymbrium hirfutius. J. B. Hijl. m. p. 224. ico. Mor. H. 0. iii. p. 370. Mentha rotundifolia paluftris minor five flore globofo. C. B. Pin. p. 228. Sifymbrium hirfutum. R. Syn. p. 233. Mentha aquatica folio brevi hirfuto. Hill. B.H. p. 352. Mentha aquatica, 0. Hud. F. A. p. 252. Sails fuccini odore. Habitat in locis uliginojis et aquofis. Sub flnem Julii floret. 10, LESSER KOUND-HEADED MINTS. 10. LESSER WATER-MINT. PL. X. THIS plant grows about a foot and a half in height; its ftalk is fquare, upright, hairy, and much branched, terminating in a fuperb round head of flowers, with two collateral ones at the joint immediately under it ; the collateral branches alfo terminate in a head of flowers, but they are fmaller than thofe of the main ftalk; the flowers are of a beautiful vivid red colour, with the ftamens longer than the bloffom. The leaves are rigid, a little crifped or curled, the lower ones ftanding on fhort foot-ftalks, but the upper ones are feffile; they are of a dark green above and almoft fmooth, but pale and hairy underneath; their fhape is partly ovate and partly cordate; they are ferrated and (hort-pointed, and their nerves are particularly ftrong and harfh. This plant, when in bloom, is of fingular beauty, and worthy of admi- ration: it has a ftrong volatile fmell of fait of amber, and of courfe is an excellent antihyfterick and cephalick. I have rejected the term hirfuta, becaufe in Somerfetfhire, Wiltfhire, and in Wales, it is a great deal fmoother than the aquatica major, although in Hornfey-lane near London, and fome other fituations, I have obferved it to be more hairy, but it is by no means conftantly fo. It grows frequently in fwamps in elevated fituations, fuch as the fides of our downs, Mendip-hills, &c. It flowers towards the end of July. TAB. XI. MENTHA CAPITATE. 25 ii. MENTHA AQUATIC A MAJOR. Mentha floribus capitatis, foliis ovatis ferratis petiolatis, ftaminibus co- rolla longioribus. Lin. Flo. Suec. ed. 2. p. 202. Mentha aquatica. Hud. F. A. p. 252. Sifymbrium fylveftre. Math. p. 378. ico. Mentha aquatica, five Sifymbrium. J. B. H. iii. p. 223. ico. Label, ico. p. 509. ■ ■ Ger. em. p. 684. ico. Lob. R. Syn.p. 233. Blackwell. H. t. 32. Lewis. Mat. Med. Mentha rotundifolia paluftris, feu aquatica major. C. B. Pin. p. zzj. Mor. H. 0. §. xi. tab. j.f. 6. Map. Alp. 193. Threlkeld. Syn. Hibern. Mentha aquatica rubra. Park. p. 1243. Mentha aquatica folio brevi lato. Hill. B. H. p. 352. Mentha foliis ovato-lanceolatis ferratis, verticillis pauciffimis terminante maximo. Hal. No. ccxxv. Mentha viii. Tourn. Injl. Odore fuliginofo. Habitat in aquofis et ad rivulos. Augujlo floret. Foliis aliquando majoribus, aliquando viinoribua, aliquando tota rubens, aliquando magis minusque hirsutis. J. B. Odor pali'dosus, acris planta, aromatica, amara cst.Haller. h 11. GREAT ROUND-HEADED MINTS. PL. XI. it. GREAT WATER-MINT. THIS plant grows from three to five feet in height; its ftalk is fquare, deeply furrowed or fulcated, green, hairy, and terminates in one great oblong head of flowers, below which there are ufually two clufters of flowers, and often a third fet Handing on footftalks, ifluing from the bofoms of the leaves ; they are of a light purple colour, divided into four fegments ; the upper fegment, as in all the mints, being bifid or cleft, but in this moft eminently fo; the ftamens are taller than the bloffom; the leaves ftand on longifh footftalks, and are (as in all its congeners the Sifymbria) round and red underneath until the latter end of May, when they begin to affume their proper fhape, and by degrees become pointed, green, hairy, broad, ovate, elliptical, and oblong; for nature fports much in the habit of this plant according to the variety of foils and fituations; for inftance, in the brooks at Twiford, it is five feet high, with broad elliptical leaves almoft fmooth ; in our ditches and rivulets about Bath it is exceedingly hairy, with ovate leaves, and does not exceed three feet in height ; on our downs again it is procumbent, hoary, and its leaves acu- minated; but its peculiar fmell points out the plant in all its various fituations, which is exaclly that of a ropy chimney in a wet fummer, where wood fires have been kept in winter-time. Tea made of its green leaves is excellent in all nervous and hyfterick cafes, and wherever wood- foot and Ruflia caftor are ufeful, the tea of this plant is not only a fine auxiliary, but in cafes of need an excellent fubftitute: I fpeak this from my own experience. Our anceftors, from long before the time of Dr. Turner to the middle of this prefent century, held it defervedly in high eftimation as a nervous medicine, and made great ufe of it. Tournefort, in his excellent Inftitutes, obferves, that there is a volatile oily fait in this plant, which is very aromatick, ftomachick, and diuretick, and that the leaves give out their virtue being made into tea. It is a very common plant growing in watery places all over England. It flowers in Auguft. MENTHtE BRITANNICiE. SERIES TERTTA. MENTHA VER TICILLA TIE. 2. Mentha arvenfis. 3. praecox. 4. agreilis. 5. gentilis. 6. gracilis. 7. pratenfis. 8. rubra. 9. variegata. 0. rivalis. 1. fativa. 2. paludofa. 3. Pulegium. BRITISH MINTS. SERIES THE THIRD. WHIRLED MINTS. Confifting of fuch Mints as produce their flowers in whirls round the ftalks in the bofom of the leaves, and contains the eleven fol- lowing Mints: 12. Cora Mint. 13. Early-flowering Mint. 14. Field Mint. 1 5. Cardiac Mint. 1 6. Slender Mint. 17. Meadow Mint. 18. Common red Mint. 19. Variegated or Window Mint. 20. Brook Mint. 2 1 . Tall red Mint, or old Garden Mint. 22. Fen Mint. 23. Penny-Royal. TAB. XII. MENTHA VERTICILLATjI. 29 12. MENTHA ARVENSIS. Mentha floribus verticillatis, foliis ovatis acutis ferratis, framinibus co- rollam sequantibus. Lin. Sp. p. 806. Calamintha aquatica. Math. p. 529. ico. nit id. Mentha arvenfis verticillata hirfuta. J. B. H. iii. p. 217. ico. ■ Map.Al.p. 193. Calamintha arvenfis verticillata. C. B. Pin. p. 229. Park. p. 36. ico. Lob. Calamintha aquatica Belgarum et Math. Lob. icon. p. 505. Ger. em. p. 684. ico. Lob. Mentha feu Calamintha aquatica. R. Syn.p. 232. No. i. Mentha aquatica exigua. R. Syn.p. 232. No. ii. Mentha No. x. Tourn. Inji. Mentha arvenfis verticillata procumbens. Mor. H. O. iii. p. ^bg.fcB. xi. tab. J- Jig. 5. Mentha aquatica hirfuta verticillata. Hill. B.H.p. 351. ico. Lob. Mentha floribus verticillatis hirfutis, foliis ovato-lanceolatis, verticillis tomentofis, odore mihi deteftabili fubdulci. Hal. Helv. No. ccxxiii. Mentha floribus verticillatis, caulibus diffufis, foliis petiolatis ovatis fer- ratis villofis. Hud. F. A. p. 253. /3. Mentha arvenfis erecla anguftifolia, caule rubefcente, odore grato. Calaminta aquatica. Black-well. H. tab. 131. y. Mentha arvenfis major, veticillis et floribus amplis, foliis latioribus, fta- minibus corolla longioribus odore grato. Habitat in arms. P. in aquojis arenofn. y. in pratis humidis. Julio Jlorent. 1 12. CORN 30 WHIRLED MINTS. PL. XII. 12. CORN MINT. THIS Mint does not much exceed one foot in height; its ftalk is fquare, pale, very hairy, and quite overloaded with horizontal branches, which weigh it down and prevent its being upright; the leaves ftand on fhort footftalks; they are hairy, ovate, ferrated, and of a pale-green colour. The whirls ftand at the joints in the bofoms of the leaves, and clofely embrace the ftalk all round; the flowers are of a pleafantred colour; the ftamens generally fhorter than the bloffom; the calix or cup is quite woolly. This plant has a ftrong fullfome mixed fmell of mellow apples and gingerbread, by which it may be always known in all fituations. Some authors have puzzled themfelves and their readers by making J. Bauhin's figure of arvenfu, a diftincT plant from Lobel's belgarum, which are cer- tainly figures of the fame plant in different fituations ; witnefs C. B. who quotes both of them to his arvenjis, as does Morrifon alfo. In gravelly and fandy foils, as Hounflow-heath, Epping, and Windfor forefts, this plant is not above fix or feven inches high, whence fome have termed it exigua, but its peculiar fmell will always detect it. It is com- mon in corn-fields and (hallow waters, and flowers at the latter end of of July and in Auguft. There are two diftincT: varieties of this plant. 1. Corn Mint with an upright ftalk, red, not much branched, growing to the height of two feet, with long, narrow, and almoft fmooth leaves, and an agreeable fmell. Mrs. Blackwell has drawn this variety for her Corn Mint. It grows in fhallow waters on fandy heaths. 2. Great Corn Mint with broad, ovate, deep-green leaves ; ftalk hairy, much branched, and two feet high, and not unpleafant in its fmell; the ftamens longer than the bloffom. It grows in moift meadows frequently. tab. xiii. MENTHjB verticillat^e. 91 13. MENTHA PRMCOX. ' Mentha floribus virticillatis, caule ereclo fubnudo albido, ramis brevio- ribus ereftis, foliis elliptico-lanceolatis petiolatis ferratis glabrioribus, nervis albis, ftaminibus corolla brevioribus : Calami aromatici odore. Mentha auftriaca, Jacquin? Habitat ad rifas jluviorum. Junib floret. 13. EARLY 52 WHIRLED MINTS. PL. xiii. EARLY-FLOWERING MINT, The ftalk of this Mint is upright, of a pale whitifh colour, almoft fmooth, and not much branched; the branches are fhort, upright, and diftant; the joints between the leaves being much longer in this Mint than in many others; the leaves ftand on fhort white footftalks; they are oblong, fmooth, ferrated, and pointed, the nerves of which are white and fimple; the whirls ftand in the bofoms of the leaves towards the top of ■the ftalk; the flowers are of a bright pink colour, with ftamens fhorter than the bloffom; the fmell of this plant is much like that of the fweet flag. This Mint has very much the face and habit of Jacquin's auftriaca, but is much larger, which may proceed from fituation. It grows by the fide of the river Avon near Bath, in various places, and blows in the middle of June, which is at leaft a fortnight or three weeks fooner than any other. TAB. XIV. MENTHA VERTICILLATjE. 33 14. MENTHA AGRESTIS. Mentha floribus verticillatis, caule ereclo hirfuto ramofo; foliis petiolatis crifpis rugofis ferratis villofis fubrotundis; ftaminibus corolla breviori- bus ; odore aromatico. Mentha arvenfis verticillata folio rotundiore odore aromatico. R. Syn. 232. Mentha xi. Tourn. Inji. Mentha aromatica folio rotundiore. Hill. B. H. p. 351. Mentha arvenfis, (3. Hud. F. A. p. 253. Habitat in arvis et hortis incultis frequenter. Julio floret. 14. FIELD 34 WHIRLED MINTS. PL. XIV. 14. FIELD MINT. THE ftalk of this Mint is fquare, upright, hairy, and much branched; the leaves ftand on very fhort footftalks ; they are broad, wrinkled, hairy, ferrated, almoft round, and of a dark-green colour; the clufters of flowers ftand in the bofoms of the leaves furrounding the ftalk, and are of a bright-red colour; the ftamens are fhorter than the bloffom; the cups of the flowers are hairy, not woolly as in Corn Mint: it has a pleafant aromatick fmell. This Mint grows in corn-fields about Mendip hills, Shepton-Mallet, and Frome, and in neglefted gardens in that part of Somerfetfhire abun- dantly; and as the Corn Mint is found in the fame fields and gardens in common with it, they certainly cannot be the fame as fome authors contend. It blows towards the end of July. TAB. XV. MENTHA VERTICILLAT-ffi. 35 15. MENTHA GEXTILIS. Mentha floribus verticillatis, brafteis longis acuminatis feffillibus, caule erecto ramofo fufco/foliisj oblongo-lanceolatis fubpetiolatis ferratis gla- brioribus, nervis fufcis, Iraminibus corolla brevioribus; ocymi odore. Mentha floribus verticillatis, foliis ovatis acutis ferratis, ftaminibus corolla brevioribus. Lin. Sp. P. p. 805. Mentha hortenfis iv. Fufch. Mentha verticillata, minor, acuta, non crifpa odore ocimi. J. B. H. Hi. p. 217. Mentha hortenfis verticillata ocimi odore. C. B. Pin. p. 227. Mar. H. O.feB. xi. tab. j.f. u Romana anguftifolia five Mentha cardiaca. Lob. ico. p. 508. " Park. p. 31. Mentha cardiaca. Ger. em. p. 680. Mentha iii. T'ourn. Injl. Mentha gentilis. Hud. F. A. p. 252. Habitat in pratis humidis, fed rarius; in fimetis et ruderatis frequenter. Julio floret. 15. CARDIAC 36 WHIRLED MINTS. PL. XV. 15. CARDIAC MINT. CARDIAC Mint grows about two feet in height ; its ftalk is upright, branched, of a dark-brown colour and almoft fmooth; the leaves are fmooth, long, narrow, ferrated, and acuminated, of a deep green colour; the lower leaves ftand on fhort footftalks, but the upper ones are feffile; the clufters of flowers grow in the bofoms of the leaves towards the top of the ftalks and branches; they are very numerous, and the floral leaves being very long and narrow, give it fo much the habit of Spear-Mint, that it is often taken for it — and Parkinfon himfelf calls it Spear-Mint, being in his time conftantly ufed for it ; and our cottagers in Somerfet- fhire and Wiltfliire ftill retain it in their gardens for the true Spear-Mint, but is very inferior to it as a febrifuge ; although as a ftomachick and cardiack, I believe it excels it. The flowers are of a pale pink colour, and the ftamens fhorter than the bloflbm. This plant is very frequent in ditches, and wafte places near towns and villages ; but a true fpontaneous habitat I have never had the good luck to ftumble on. It blooms in Auguft. TAB. XVI. MENTHA VERTICILLAT^. 37 16. MENTHA GRACILIS. Mentha floribus verticillatis, verticillis paucioribus ac minoribus, foliis petiolatis ovato-lanceolatis ferratis, fubhirfutis, nervis albis pilofis, caule erect o pilofo fuffruticofo exalbido rubefcente fubramofo, ramulis bre- vibus ereftis, ftaminibus corolla brevioribus; odore grato. Mentha rubra vulgaris. Hill. B. H. p. 352. Habitat in aquofls et ad ripas fluviorum. Augufio floret. L 16. SLENDER WHIRLED MINTS. PL. XVI. 1 6. SLENDER MINT. THIS Mint grows to the height of two feet and more ; the ftalks are (lender, hard, and upright, very little branched, with very fmall, upright branches, which feldom afford any bloffoms; they are at firft white, and, by degrees, become of a pale-brown colour; the whirls of flowers are fewer and fmaller than in the preceding ; the leaves ftand on footftalks, are of a long ovate pointed fhape, a little hairy and ferrated ; the nerves are white: it has an agreeable aromatic-minty fmell. The ftamens are fhorter than the bloffoms. It differs from the foregoing in having no fmell of Bafil, and the floral leaves are broader and ftand on footftalks, whereas in the former they are feffile and very narrow, merely brafteals ; nor has it the leaft refemblance of fpear-mint, which that has. Moreover, a perfon laying out a fpeci- men of gehtilh for drying will not be able to wafh off the Bafil fmell from his hands in hafte; on the contrary, this plant leaves a pleafant fmell, and is eafily wafhed off. It grows by the fides of rivers and brooks, but very fparingly. I found this by the fide of a brook near Bradford, Wilts, in the year 1772. TAB. XVII. MENTHA VERTICILLAT^K. 39 17. MENTHA PRATENSIS. Mentha floribus verticillatis, foliis ovalibus obtufis argute-ferratis fub- petiolatis rugofis rigidis hirfutis, foliis caulinis dependentibus ; caule hirfuto erefto, fuperne ramofo, inferne fimplice, ex pallido-viride fufcefcente; verticillis habituoribus ac minoribus, floribus purpuro- cceruleis, ftaminibus corolla brevioribus; Mentha; piperita; odore. Habitat in uliginojis montqfis. Sub finem Augujii floret. 17. MEADOW 40 WHIRLED MINTS. PL. XVII. 17. MEADOW MINT. THIS Mint grows from two to three feet in height; its ftalk is upright, and branched only towards the top, turning by degrees from pale-green to a dark-brown colour; thefe branches as well as the main ftalk, are full of whirls of flowers, very much refembling thofe of penny-royal. The leaves are oval ; they have fhort footftalks, are harfh, wrinkled, hairy, and deeply ferrated; and what is very peculiar to this mint, the leaves all the way up the ftalk to where the branches commence are depend- ing, and hang down clofe to the ftalk ; the ftamens are fhorter than the bloffom: it has a ftrong fmell of pepper-mint, and might, with pro- priety, be called Whirled Pepper-Mint. It blooms in Auguft. I found this plant in the year 1789, in wet places in the New Foreft, Hants, particularly in a common, (Alderbury common) near the Roe- buck, between Salifbury and Romfey. It has not varied in the leaft by cultivation. TAB. XVIII. MENTHjE VERTICTLLATVE. 41 1 8. MENTHA RUBRA. Mentha floribus verticillatis, caulibus herbaceis diffufis fubglabris rubris, foliis ovatis acutis ferratis petiolatis, ftaminibus corolla brevioribus; odore grato. Mentha fufca five vulgaris. Park. p. 31. Ray. Syn. p. 232. t Habitat in aqiwjis et ad rivuhs, fed rarius. Julio floret. M 18. RED WHIRLED MINTS. PL. XVIII. 1 8. RED MINT. THIS Mint grows about a foot and a half in height; the ftalk is of a deep red colour, very much branched, herbaceous, and almoft fmooth ; the leaves ftand on fhort footftalks, they are ovate, ferrated, roundifh, and pointed ; the nerves are red, which, as well as the edges, are a little hairy; the whirls are very numerous both on the main ftalk and colla- teral branches, and the bloffoms are large and of a red colour; the ftamens are fhorter than the blofTom : it has an agreeable aromatick minty fmell. " This is a common mint, but has no fmell of bafil." Mr. S. Dak. R. Syn. p. 232. It grows fpontaneous in pools and brooks between Mole and Llan- rwft, North-Wales, whence I brought it twenty years ago. It blooms in July. Mr. Hudfon, in his Flora Anglica, has blended this and Nos. 15 and 16 all together as one plant; but as they keep their diftin&ions after twenty years cultivation, I am induced to think they are three feparate plants, and accordingly give them as fuch. TAB. XIX. MENTHA VF.RTICILLATJE. *3 19. MENTHA VARIEGATA. Mentha verticillis lateralibus pedunculatis, foliis petiolatis ovatis acutis ferratis variegatis pubefcentibus, caule erefto rubro glabriore fubra- mofo, ftaminibus corolla brevioribus ; odore grato. Mentha arvenfis verticillata verficolor. Mor. H. O. feSl. xi. /. j.f. 5. prima. Habitat in ruderatis. Augafto floret. 19. WINDOW WHIRLED MINTS. PL. XIX. 19. WINDOW MINT. THIS plant grows from a foot and a half to two feet in height; its ftalk is fquare, red, upright, and not much branched; the leaves ftand on footftalks; they are ovate, ferrated, pointed, and beautifully variegated with green and gold-coloured ftripes ; the clufters of flowers are lateral, and are fupported by one common long footftalk. It is a favourite plant of our Wiltfhire and Somerfet cottagers, and many of them cultivate it in pots to ornament their windows, for which purpofe it is admirably adapted: I have for this reafon called it Window Mint. The clufters contain but few flowers, and they are fmall and red; the ftamens are fhorter than the blofloms: it has an agreeable aromatick fmell, and blows in Auguft. Morrifon, who is the only author I have met with that treats of it, gives it as a variety of corn mint ; but the eye, at the very firft glance, determines it to be different. It is often met with in fuburbs of towns, but I have never found it fpontaneous. TAB. XX. MENTHA VERTICILLATiE. 20. MENTHA RIVALIS. Mentha verticillis lateralibus, aliquando pedunculatis, caule erefto ramofo hirfuto rubefcente, foliis latis ovatis acuminatis petiolatis argute fer- ratis, fuperne glabrioribus inferne villofis, nervis robuftioribus et ra- mofis, ftaminibus corolla longioribus. Mentha; fativae odore graviore. Scrophularice nodofie facie. " Huic fimilem, hirfutie tamen foliorum difcrepantem invenit " D. I'll. Bobart juxta rivulos quofdam ad latera montis Shot- " over prope Oxonium. R. Syn. p. 232. de M. No. iv." jS. Mentha rlvalis — Calaminthas facie et odore. y. Mentha rivalis — foliis inferioribus rotundioribus, fuperioribus concavis, caule inferne ramofo fuperne fimplice; ftaminibus corolla brevioribus. Serpylli odore. X. Mentha rivalis — foliis minoribus rotundioribus incanis, caule ramofo, ramis ereclis longioribus villofis rubefcentibus. Mari odore. Habitant iti ri-vidis et pratis- humidis. Angujlo floreni. N 20. BROOK 4-6 WHIRLED MINTS. PL. XX. 20. BROOK MINT. THIS Mint grows about three feet in height; the ftalk is fquare, up- right, branched, and hairy, turning from a dark green to a reddifh colour as the fummer advances ; the leaves ftand on footftalks, they are broad, ovate, and pointed, fharply ferrated, and are hairy underneath, but almoft fmooth on the upper fides; the nerves are remarkably ftrong and branched, turning red towards autumn. The clufters of flowers are lateral and feffile towards the top of the ftalks, but the bottom clufters are pedun- culated, (landing on one common footftalk, as exprefled in the plate. The bloflbms are of a very pale pink colour, and are fhorter than the ftamens. This plant has a coarfe, favage afpeft, not unlike the common fig- wort: it has a heavy mixed goatilh fmell of fpear-mint. This Mint has three varieties. Variety the firft — Brook-Mint, refembling common calamint in face, habit, and fmell. Variety the fecond — Brook-Mint, with broad round leaves at bottom, and concave ovate leaves on the upper part of the ftalks — the ftamens fhorter than the blofioms ; the fmell is very pleafant, and like that of lemon-thyme. Variety the third— Brook-Mint, with roundifti hoary leaves. The ftalk branched, and the branches are upright, and equal in height to the main ftalk; they are hairy and red, having a ftrong volatile fmell of marum. The firft of thefe Mints grows in Locks-brook between Wefton and Twerton ; the /S variety I found in wet meadows near Salilbury; the y variety grows in King's-Mead near Bath; the $ in ponds at South- Wraxall, Wilts, called Wraxall-Ponds. They all blow in Auguft. TAB. XXI. MENTHA VERTICILL ATJE. 47 21. MENTHA SAT IV A. Mentha floribus verticillatis, foliis ovatis acutiufculis ferratis, ftaminibus corolla longioribus. Lin. Sp. P. p. 805. Mentha fativa prima. Fufch. cum ico. Mentha crifpa verticillata, folio rotundiore. J. B. Hift. iii. p. 216. ico. Fufch. Mentha cruciata. Lob. icon. p. 507. Mentha crifpa verticillata. Math. p. 526. ico. C. B. Pin. p. 227. Park. p. 3 1 . ico. Lob. Mor. H. O. fe£l. xi. tab. J- fig. 2. Tourn. Inji. Men. iv. Hill. B. H. p. 352. ico. Lob. Mentha fativa rubra. Ger. em. p. 680. ico. Lob. Mentha verticillata. R. Syn. p. 232. No. iv. Mentha fativa. Hud. F.A. p. 253. Habitat juxt a rivulos et ad ripas fiuviorum. Septembn floret. 21. TALL WHIRLED MINTS. PL. XXI. 21. TALL RED MINT. THIS is the moft elegant plant of all the Mint tribe, growing from three to four feet in height ; its ftalk is fquare, hard, and red, or rather of a dark chefnut colour; upright, except towards the top, where it be- comes flowing, as do alfo the collateral branches, which are not very numerous; the main ftalk or leader runs on to a greater height than in all other mints, except the laft No. xx. with this difference, the leader in that runs upright and formal— in this, it is flowing, graceful, and eafy; the leaves ftand on fhort footftalks, they are rigid, fomewhat crifped or curled, ovate, pointed, and deeply ferrated all the way down to the very point itfelf ; the nerves of the leaves are red and a little hairy, as are alfo the edges of the leaves, but the furfaces are fmooth. The clufters of flowers fit in the bofoms of the leaves ; the flowers are larger than thofe of any other mint, of a bright red colour, having the ftamens longer than the blofom. John Bauhin's defcription of it is excellent, as indeed moft of his are. I brought this plant twenty-three years ago from a brook in North- Wales. I alfo faw it in various waters in Colebrook-Dale, as well as in a wet place between Kidderminfter and Bridgenorth, Salops. It is a late plant, and flowers in September. TAB. XXII. MENTHA VERTICILLATJE. 4U 22. MENTHA PALUDOSA. Mentha fpica capitato-verticillata; foliis oblongis crenatis petiolatis, la- nuginofis, nervis rubris, caule ereclo fubramofo villofo rubefcente, ftaminibus carolla aequantibus. Odore fragrantiffimo. Mentha balfamita vel latifolia odorata, diutiffime durat odor ejus fua- viffimus. Mcr. Pin. p. 77. ? Habitat in aquofts paludofis. Septembn floret. o 22. FEN 50 WHIRLED MINTS. PL. XXII. 22. FEN MINT. FEN Mint has an upright, green, hairy ftalk, growing about two feet in height; it is very lightly branched, and the branches are fhort, bearing one fmall head of flowers at their extremity. The leaves ftand on foot- ftalks, they are notched at the edges, are foft and woolly; their nerves are red. The whirls of the flowers fit in the bofoms of the leaves fo clofe together as to referable a fpike ; and what is particularly charafter- iftic in this plant, the ftalk terminates in a round head of flowers like the water mints, whereas all the other verticillate mints terminate in a neat rofeate knot of leaves. The flowers are large, and of a pale purple co- lour; the ftamens juft equal with the bloffom. This plant has a moft agreeable fragrant fmell, refembling fweet mar- joram. It is a late plant, and blows in the middle of September. It grows in Holt-Fen, at Stretham, near Ely; alfo in a rivulet, by the fide of Awdry-caufey, near Hadingham, in the Ifle of Ely. TAB. XXIII. MENTHA VERTTCILLATjE. 51 23. MENTHA PULEGIUM. Mentha floribus verticillatis, foliis ovatis obtufis fubcrenatls, caulibus fubteretibus repentibus, ftaminibus corolla longioribus. Lin. Sp. PL p. 807. Mentha Pulegium. Hud. F. A. p. 254. Pulegium. J. B. H. iii. p. 256. Habitat in ericetis humidis. Septembn floret. 23. PENNY- 52 WHIRLED MINTS. PL. XXIII. 23. PENNY-ROYAL. THE main ftalk of this plant is fquare, like the reft of the mints, but is not fo deeply furrowed: it reclines on the ground, and fends forth numerous fmall branches, which are almoft round; the leaves are ovate, fmall, obtufe, and crenated. The rundles of flowers fit in the bofoms of the leaves at every joint; they are of a beautiful purple colour, and the ftamens are longer than the bloffom. This ufeful plant is fo well known in all families, and treated of by fo many authors, that it is needlefs here to enlarge upon it; but it was neceffary to introduce it to perfect my deiign, that of exhibiting a com- pleat fet of Plates of all the Britifh Mints hitherto difcovered. The fine fpecimen from which this plate was taken, I gathered in the beginning of September, in a pond at the back of the Ball-faced Stag, Epping-Foreft, in 1793, where it grows abundantly, and in great lux- uriance. TAB. XXIV. ADDENDA. 53 MENTHA SPICATA. 24. MENTHA PIPERITA STLVESTRIS. Mentha fpicis oblongis latioribus, interruptis, foliis latis ovatis acutis, petiolatis ferratis fubhirfutis, nervis albis, caule erefto rigido fubra- mofo, ex albido rubefcente, piperis odore gravi, ftarninibus corolla brevioribus. Sub finem Septembris floret. Habitat in aquofls. p 24. SAVAGE 54 ADDENDA. PL. XXIV. SPIKED MINT. 24. SAVAGE PEPPER-MINT. THIS wild Pepper-Mint grows about three feet in height, (fometifnes four.) The ftalk is hairy, upright, fquare, of a whitifh-green colour in fpring, but becomes reddifh towards autumn, and is branched in the manner of the true pepper-mint: its leaves are broad, ovate, pointed, ferrated, and a little hairy; the nerves are white; the ftamens are fhorter than the bloffom. It differs from the true pepper-mint in being much larger and coarfer, and having a difagreeable goatifh fmell of pepper- mint: the flowers alfo are paler, and more mixed with white: its whole afpecl is very favage, and cultivation does not improve it. This is a late plant, and blows about the latter end of September. It grows in a fwampy place at Lyncomb Spa, and various other wet places in the neighbourhood of Bath. ADDENDA. 55 MENTHA CAPITATA. MENTHA AQUATIC A TOMENTOSA . Mentha fpicis glomeratis, caule erecTro villofo non ramofo, foliis cordato- ovatis ferratis petiolatis, incanis, mollioribus, ftaminibus corolla bre- vioribus: odore aromatico. HOARY WATER-MINT. THIS Mint grows about a foot and half in height; the ftalk is up- right, very hairy, and not branched, unlefs quite at the top; its flowers are in very compact heads; the leaves are rather heart-fhaped than ovate, and are foft and woolly; the ftamens are fhorter than the bloffom: it has a fine aromatic fmell, and is, in its afpedt, fo totally different from aquatica minor, and major, that it might with propriety be made a diftincl: mint. It grows upon Lanfdown, in the fpring-head of Locks-brook, (along with aquatica major and pip. officinalis) as well as in various other elevated fvvamps about Bath. It is a late plant, and does not blow before the latter end of September. CORRIGENDA. ge 5, line 1, for /pica obhnga, read /pica oUongu; as it feldom occurs with a Angle fpike as Mr. Hudfon defcribes it. II, 1 . penult, for fiuionim, r. fluviarum. 22, 1. 9- for hint, r. mint. 25, 1. ult. put a period before Hal. 31, 1. ult. for Junii, r. Junto. 35, 1. 2, omit femicolon after fiBs, and place it after fitfia. (fj- In pages 21 and 50, to the quotation from Merret, which is cited to both plants, the mark of Interrogation, which I intended, is omitted — being doubtful, from his indefinite de- fcription, which it beft fuited; or whether it means either of themi — it is hoped there- fore, that fome Botanift, whom it may fuit to fearch the way between Pemfey and Lewes, Suflex, will foon be able to find the plant and afcertain it.