Peppermint’s Latin name, Mentha piperita, comes from the Greek Mintha, the name of a mythical nymph thought to have metamorphosed into the plant, and the Latin piper, meaning pepper. It is one of the world’s oldest medicinal herbs, and is used in both Eastern and Western traditions. Ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian cultures used the herb in cooking and medicine. Peppermint is currently one of the most economically important aromatic and medicinal crops produced in the U.S.
Mentha piperita. It is thought to be a natural hybrid between spearmint (Mentha spicata) and water mint (Mentha aquatica). The plant is a perennial, 50-60 cm (3-4 feet) high. The square stems are usually reddish-purple and smooth. The leaves are short, oblong-ovate and serrate. The flowers are purple-pinkish and appear in the summer months. The plant has runners above and below ground.
Where found: Europe, Canada, and the US.
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