Slender Mint
Mentha diemenica

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A herb which keeps growing from year to year. It has a vigorous creeping rhizome. It grows 10-30 cm high and spreads 50-200 cm wide. The stems are square. They often form roots at the nodes. They branch and are hairy. The leaves are 0.4-2 cm long by 0.2-0.6 cm wide. They are oval or sword shaped. They are opposite and broadest near the base. They have short stalks. The flowers are small and pale purple or pink. They occur in clusters of 2-8 in rings in the axils of upper leaves. The fruit is small.

There are 25 Mentha species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in moist soils and areas which get flooded. Tasmania Herbarium.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Tasmania (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The leaves are used to flavour savoury dishes as well as desserts.

Edible parts

Leaves - tea, leaves - flavouring

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed, cuttings or division of the clump.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Mentha gracilis R.Br.;