seeds of Mentha × piperita L

Mentha × piperita L. is a hybrid mint of the family Lamiaceae. The hybrid is the result of a cross between spearmint and watermint. Synonyms for the plant include Mentha×basalmia Wild., Mentha aquatica var. citrata and Mentha × adspersa Moench. The most common name for the plant is peppermint. Mentha × piperita L. initially grew indigenously in the Middle East and Europe before spreading all over the globe. The largest producer of peppermint in the world at the present moment is Morocco. The herbaceous hybrid grows to a height of between 30 and 90 cm. The roots are fibrous, and the stem is glabrous with a square cross-section. The leaves have a serrated margin, red veins on their surface and have a length of 4 to 9 cm. The leaf blade tapers to a sharp point at the apex. The flower’s corolla is purple, four-lobed and has a 5 mm diameter. The leaves contain essential oils which are usually extracted and used in the making of menthol. Menthol is an important ingredient in the making of toothpaste, chewing gum and soap. One can also use the leaves as they are without any need for extraction. Peppermint leaves, with adequate preparation, can be used to impart a minty taste into a variety of foods. Additional use of the plant is as a natural deterrent to pests. Mentha × piperita L. contains a considerable number of natural pesticides, most notably pulegone. Thus, the oil from the plant can prove useful in organic gardening. Mentha × piperita L. also has some medicinal properties that have been exploited both traditionally and in modern medicine. A traditional method of relieving nerve or muscle pain involved placing the oil and the leaves in contact with the skin. What followed was a cooling sensation. Mentha × piperita L. is also currently undergoing research as a possible source of a remedy for irritable bowel syndrome.