Manufacturer of Spearmint Oil 80% KE - 525-77-552

Specifications

                      Spearmint Oil

Synonym.—Mentha viridis L.

Other common names.—Mint, brown mint, garden mint, lamb mint, mackerel mint, Our Lady's mint, sage of Bethlehem.

Habitat and range.—Like peppermint, the spearmint has also been naturalized from Europe and may be found in moist fields and waste places from Nova Scotia to Utah and south to Florida. It is also cultivated to some extent for the distillation of the oil, especially in Michigan and Indiana, and for domestic use it is a familiar garden plant.

Description.—Spearmint in its general characteristics resembles peppermint, but it is rather more vigorous in its growth, the lance-shaped leaves are generally stemless, and the flower spikes are narrow and pointed rather than thick and blunt.

Description: This wildflower is a herbaceous perennial about 1-2' tall. The central stem and any lateral stems are light green to reddish green, 4-angled, and glabrous. Pairs of sessile opposite leaves occur along these stems. Individual leaves are 1-2½" long and ½-1½" across; they are lanceolate to ovate and dentate along their margins. The elongated teeth of the margins have narrow tips that bend toward the tip of each leaf blade. The upper surface of each leaf is medium green and glabrous; it has a

 wrinkled appearance because of the indentations along its veins. The lower surface of each leaf is pale to medium green and either glabrous or nearly so. The foliage of Spearmint has a moderately strong minty fragrance. The central stem and any upper lateral stems terminate in dense spikes of whorled flowers about 1-6" long. At the apex of the central stem, the inflorescence typically consists of a central spike and 2 smaller lateral spikes. Individual flowers are about 1/8" long, consisting of a short tubular calyx with 5 narrow teeth, a short tubular corolla with 5 lobes, 4 strongly exerted stamens, and a pistil with a single style that is divided at its tip. The calyx is light green to reddish green and glabrous, while the corolla is white to light pink. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer into fall, lasting about 1-2 months. Afterwards, each flower is replaced by 4 small nutlets that are located within the persistent calyx. The shallow root system is fibrous and rhizomatous. Vegetative colonies of plants are often produced from the rhizomes.

Part used.—The dried leaves and flowering tops, collected before the flowers are fully developed. Spearmint is cultivated like peppermint for the production of oil, but on a less extensive scale.