Mentha grandiflora is a plant species in the genus Mentha, endemic to eastern Australia. The species was described in 1848 by botanist George Bentham.[2] Its epithet, grandiflora, means "with large flowers".[3]
| Mentha grandiflora | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Mentha |
| Species: | M. grandiflora
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mentha grandiflora | |
Taxonomy
editMentha grandiflora is generally accepted as a distinct species by taxonomy authorities,[4][5] and along with Mentha pulegium and Mentha requienii, it is considered to belong to the section Pulegium within the Mentha genus.[6] These three species have been proposed to be monophyletic, but this has not been confirmed due to lack of study of M. grandiflora.[7]
M. grandiflora may also be categorized as among the species of mint whose primary monoterpene compound is menthol (rather than carvone or linalool).[8]
Description
editMentha grandiflora is a small herb with "pale lilac-purple" flowers and a pronounced pennyroyal scent.[9]
An analysis of the leaf essential oil components of M. grandiflora were first published in 1997, and found its primary constituents were: piperitenone oxide (36.2%), trans-piperitone oxide (21.4%), pulegone (19.1%), menthone (9.7%), d-Limonene (3.5%), bicyclogermacrene (2.1%), piperitenone (1.7%).[10] Its high quantities of piperitenone oxide & trans-piperitone oxide differentiate it from the other endemic Australian species.[11] This is the only known study of the essential oil of this species.[12]
Distribution
editMentha grandiflora is endemic to regions of sandy soil in eastern Australia, from Queensland to northern New South Wales.[13] Its distribution within this range has been described as "highly disjunct" however.[9]
Use
editMentha grandiflora is considered unsuitable for food use.[14] The report of the 1861 Victorian Exhibition, held in Melbourne, opined that "this mint has a fiery, bitter, and very unpleasant nauseous taste" such that "it could not be used as a substitute for common peppermint, except for medical purposes."[15]
Notes
edit- ^ Australia, Atlas of Living. "Species: Mentha grandiflora". Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- ^ "Mentha grandiflora Benth". The Plant List. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
- ^ Harrison 2012, p. 101.
- ^ "Mentha grandiflora Benth". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
- ^ "Mentha grandiflora Benth". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
- ^ Tucker & Naczi 2006, p. 14.
- ^ Bunsawat et al. 2004, p. 963.
- ^ Šarić-Kundalić et al. 2009, p. 853.
- ^ a b Brophy et al. 1997, p. 459.
- ^ Brophy et al. 1997, p. 460.
- ^ Brophy et al. 1997, p. 461.
- ^ Lawrence 2006, p. 339.
- ^ Tucker & Naczi 2006, p. 20.
- ^ Hegarty, Hegarty & Wills 2001, p. 22.
- ^ Coates, Osborne & Ashley 1861, p. 54.
References
edit- Brophy, Joseph J.; Goldsack, Robert J.; Forster, Paul I.; Fookes, Christopher J. R. (1997-07-01). "Leaf Essential Oil of Mentha grandiflora Benth. (Lamiaceae)". Journal of Essential Oil Research. 9 (4): 459–461. doi:10.1080/10412905.1997.9700749. ISSN 1041-2905. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
- Bunsawat, Jiranan; Elliott, Natalina E.; Hertweck, Kate L.; Sproles, Elizabeth; Alice, Lawrence A. (2004). "Phylogenetics of Mentha (Lamiaceae): Evidence from Chloroplast DNA Sequences". Systematic Botany. 29 (4): 959–964. doi:10.1600/0363644042450973. ISSN 0363-6445. JSTOR 25064024. S2CID 86816849. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- Chambers, Henrietta L.; Hummer, Kim E. (1994). "Chromosome Counts in the Mentha Collection at the USDA: ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository". Taxon. 43 (3): 423–432. doi:10.2307/1222717. ISSN 0040-0262. JSTOR 1222717. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
- Coates, Dr.; Osborne, J. W.; Ashley, Edmund (1861). Report on Class III. Catalogue of the Victorian Exhibition, 1861. Melbourne: John Ferres.
- Hegarty, Merv; Hegarty, Elwyn; Wills, Ron (2001). Food Safety of Australian Plant Bushfoods. Queensland: Canprint. ISBN 0-642-58250-5.
- Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 978-1845337315.
- Lawrence, Brian M. (2006-12-13). "Oil Composition of Other Mentha Species and Hybrids". In Brian M. Lawrence (ed.). Mint: The Genus Mentha. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - Industrial Profiles (1st ed.). Boca Roton: CRC Press. pp. 325–346. ISBN 978-0-8493-0798-0.
- Šarić-Kundalić, Broza; Fialová, Silvia; Dobeš, Christoph; Ölzant, Silvester; Tekeľová, Daniela; Grančai, Daniel; Reznicek, Gottfried; Saukel, Johannes (2009). "Multivariate Numerical Taxonomy of Mentha Species, Hybrids, Varieties and Cultivars". Scientia Pharmaceutica. 77 (4): 851–876. doi:10.3797/scipharm.0905-10.
- Tucker, Arthur O.; Naczi, Robert F. C. (2006-12-13). "Mentha: An Overview of Its Classification and Relationships". In Brian M. Lawrence (ed.). Mint: The Genus Mentha. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants - Industrial Profiles (1st ed.). Boca Roton: CRC Press. pp. 1–40. ISBN 978-0-8493-0798-0.
External links
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Data related to Mentha grandiflora at Wikispecies
