water mint

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bergamot mint
• lemon mint
• water mint
• Aromatic Thyme
• Mint

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Mentha polyanthetica
• Mentha lobeliana
• Mentha aquatica var. hirsuta
• Mentha hirsuta var. aquatica
• Mentha aquatica var. subthermalis
• Mentha aquatica var. lobeliana
• Mentha aquatica f. lloydii
• Mentha glomerata var. palustris
• Mentha aquatica f. hirsuta
• Mentha nepetifolia
• Mentha glomerata var. paludosa
• Mentha aquatica var. pyrifolia
• Mentha duriuscula
• Mentha aquatica var. metabola
• Mentha hygrophila
• Mentha hybrida
• Mentha origanoides
• Mentha palustris
• Mentha aquatica var. pedunculata
• Mentha pireana
• Mentha avellinii
• Mentha brachiata
• Mentha bugulifolia
• Mentha adspersa
• Mentha stagnalis
• Mentha crenatodentata
• Mentha glomerata
• Mentha cordata
• Mentha limicola
• Mentha obliqua
• Mentha denticulata
• Mentha acutata
• Marrubium aquaticum
• Mentha glomerata var. aurantiaca
• Mentha hirsuta var. aquatica
• Mentha riparia var. angustata
• Mentha aquatica subsp. ortmanniana
• Mentha aquatica f. maxima
• Mentha aquatica f. valdelata
• Mentha aquatica f. latiovalis
• Mentha aquatica var. calaminthifolia
• Mentha aquatica f. medaquensis
• Mentha glomerata var. glabra
• Mentha aquatica var. erromena
• Mentha aquatica subsp. caput-medusae
• Mentha aquatica f. solida
• Mentha glomerata var. exigua
• Mentha aquatica var. cheitessa
• Mentha duriuscula
• Mentha aquatica f. subsessilifolia
• Mentha aquatica var. stricta
• Mentha aquatica f. schlinseana
• Mentha aquatica var. limnetes
• Mentha aquatica f. riparia
• Mentha aquatica var. polyanthetica
• Mentha aquatica f. luxurians
• Mentha aquatica f. stoderiana
• Mentha aquatica var. subdentata
• Mentha aquatica f. trichophylla
• Mentha aromatica
• Mentha aquatica f. illensis
• Mentha aquatica var. leptocephala
• Mentha aquatica var. agenensis
• Mentha acuta
• Mentha aquatica var. lloydii
• Mentha aquatica var. rauscheri
• Mentha dubia
• Mentha aquatica var. psilophylla
• Mentha dunensis
• Mentha aquatica var. plerotricha
• Mentha aquatica f. uberrima
• Mentha aquatica var. elongata
• Mentha aquatica var. verticicola
• Mentha elongata
• Mentha eriantha
• Mentha aquatica var. eriomastix
• Mentha hirsuta var. riparia
• Mentha × scordiastrum var. auneticensis
• Mentha chaixii
• Mentha aquatica subsp. bakeri
• Mentha citrata
• Mentha aquatica subsp. lanigera
• Mentha aquatica var. crenatodentata
• Mentha calaminthifolia
• Mentha riparia var. umbrosa
• Mentha riparia var. acuta
• Mentha rudaeana var. ranina
• Mentha avellinii
• Mentha hirsuta var. purpurea
• Mentha augusta
• Mentha hirsuta var. limosa
• Mentha auneticensis
• Mentha aquatica var. bicknellii
• Mentha aurita
• Mentha stolonifera
• Mentha aquatica var. barbigera
• Mentha soleana
• Mentha aquatica var. limnobia
• Mentha rudaeana
• Mentha lloydii var. opaca
• Mentha riparia var. umbraticola
• Mentha subspicata
• Mentha cetica
• Mentha subthermalis
• Mentha rauscheri
• Mentha hystrix
• Mentha tinantiana
• Mentha aquatica f. silesiaca
• Mentha trojana
• Mentha aquatica f. maculosa
• Mentha umbrosa
• Mentha aquatica f. perlata
• Mentha urticifolia
• Mentha hirsuta var. latifolia
• Mentha viennensis
• Mentha hirsuta var. subspicata
• Mentha weiheana
• Mentha aquatica f. gnaphalifrons
• Mentha × verticillata var. subspicata
• Mentha × verticillata var. paludosa
• Mentha aquatica f. slavonica
• Mentha intricata
• Mentha aquatica f. tiroliensis
• Mentha incisoserrata
• Mentha aquatica f. pontica
• Mentha aquatica var. duriuscula
• Mentha aquatica f. aradensis
• Mentha aquatica f. serratula
• Mentha hirsuta
• Mentha aquatica var. stagnalis
• Mentha aquatica f. lasiotricha
• Mentha aquatica f. macrocephalota
• Mentha grandidentata
• Mentha aquatica f. subhirsuta
• Mentha lateovata
• Mentha aquatica f. macrophylla
• Mentha aquatica f. lobeliana
• Mentha aquatica f. pseudopiperita
• Mentha limnetes
• Mentha aquatica f. icmadogena
• Mentha limosa
• Mentha aquatica var. carolovicensis
• Mentha littoralis
• Mentha aquatica f. subriparia
• Mentha lloydii
• Mentha aquatica f. hirsuta
• Mentha aquatica f. purpurea
• Mentha macrocephala
• Mentha aquatica f. elongata
• Mentha aquatica f. pusilla
• Mentha subspicata f. hirsuta
• Mentha subspicata f. bracteosa
• Mentha ortmanniana
• Mentha aquatica var. subsativa
• Mentha aquatica var. suavifolia
• Mentha obtuseserrata
• Mentha aquatica subsp. capitata
• Mentha obtusifolia
• Mentha aquatica var. odorata
• Mentha microcephala
• Mentha aquatica var. subspicata
• Mentha ortmanniana var. minoriflora
• Mentha nederheimensis
• Mentha aquatica var. chaixii
• Mentha nigrescens
• Mentha aquatica subvar. hirsuta
• Mentha aquatica var. affinis
• Mentha aquatica var. dubia
• Mentha aquatica var. briquetiana
• Mentha × piperita subsp. citrata
• Mentha × dumetorum subvar. deseglisei
• Mentha probabilis
• Mentha × verticillata var. riparia
• Mentha aquatica var. pseudopiperita
• Mentha aquatica var. cordata
• Mentha purpurea
• Mentha aquatica subsp. hirsuta
• Mentha pyrifolia
• Mentha aquatica var. latifolia
• Mentha aquatica var. oblongifolia
• Mentha ramosissima
• Mentha aquatica var. gracilis
• Mentha ranina
• Mentha riparia
• Mentha aquatica brachiata
• Mentha aquatica obscura
• Mentha aquatica f. citrata
• Mentha aquatica var. oblongifolia
• Mentha aquatica subsp. lloydii
• Mentha hirsuta var. origanoides
• Mentha aquatica f. limosa
• Mentha hirsuta var. legitima
• Mentha aquatica var. citrata
• Mentha aquatica var. subintegrifolia
• Mentha aquatica var. riparia
• Mentha aquatica var. major
• Mentha aquatica var. weiheana
• Mentha aquatica var. turrita
• Mentha aquatica var. incisoserrata
• Mentha aquatica var. denticulata
• Mentha aquatica var. hypeuria
• Mentha aquatica var. arguta
• Mentha aquatica var. minor
• Mentha aquatica var. capitata
• Mentha aquatica var. grandidentata
• Mentha hirsuta var. lobeliana
• Mentha × piperita var. citrata
• Mentha × suavis var. avellinii
• Mentha aquatica var. eriantha
• Mentha × sativa var. palustris
• Mentha × sativa subsp. paludosa
• Mentha aquatica convar. acrocephala
• Mentha aquatica var. pipericeps
• Mentha aquatica var. simplex
• Mentha aquatica var. submersa
• Mentha aquatica var. grandifolia
• Mentha aquatica var. clinopodiiflora
• Mentha aquatica var. microcephala
• Mentha aquatica var. longipedunculata
• Mentha aquatica var. pauciflora
• Mentha aquatica subvar. pluriglobula
• Mentha aquatica var. clinopodiifolia
• Mentha aquatica f. cuneiformis
• Mentha aquatica f. dubia
• Mentha aquatica f. rubescens
• Mentha aquatica f. glabrescens
• Mentha aquatica f. subcordata
• Mentha aquatica var. pluridentata
• Mentha aquatica var. ortmanniana
• Mentha aquatica var. nicaeensis
• Mentha aquatica var. nemorosa
• Mentha aquatica var. tomentosa
• Mentha aquatica var. major-denticulata
• Mentha aquatica var. ortmanniana-major
• Mentha aquatica f. paniculata
• Mentha aquatica f. pedunculata
• Mentha aquatica f. udicola
• Mentha aquatica f. ambigua
• Mentha aquatica var. litoralis
• Mentha aquatica subsp. litoralis
• Mentha aquatica f. cana
• Mentha aquatica var. stenomacra
• Mentha aquatica var. ellipticifolia
• Mentha aquatica var. purpurea
• Mentha aquatica var. pusilla
• Mentha aquatica f. citriodora
• Mentha aquatica var. incana
• Mentha aquatica var. attenuata
• Mentha aquatica var. aequalifolia
• Mentha aquatica var. caudata
• Mentha aquatica elegans
• Mentha aquatica opaca
• Mentha aquatica plicata
• Mentha aquatica virgata
• Mentha aquatica var. pyramidalis
• Mentha aquatica f. caput-medusae
• Mentha aquatica var. umbrosa
• Mentha aquatica var. acutifolia
• Mentha aquatica var. monocephala
• Mentha aquatica var. parviflora
• Mentha aquatica subvar. erronema
• Mentha aquatica f. glabrata
• Mentha aquatica divaricata
• Mentha aquatica simpliciuscula
• Mentha aquatica f. hirta
• Mentha hirsuta var. dubia
• Mentha hirsuta var. denticulata
• Mentha hirsuta var. allioniana
• Mentha hirsuta var. pyramidalis
• Mentha hirsuta var. spicata
• Mentha hirsuta var. verticillata
• Mentha aquatica var. intricata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, it falls into the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is specifically categorized under the genus Mentha.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Mentha aquatica, exhibits a specific distribution across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. The species also extends its range to the island of Iceland. Furthermore, its presence is documented within the territory of Great Britain. Finally, this medicinal plant is also located in the Føroyaar islands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Mentha aquatica is characterized by its preference for moist, riparian environments, typically thriving in habitats such as forests and along the banks of rivers. This species exhibits a broad vertical distribution across varying landscapes, spanning an elevational range from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 3300 m AMSL. Its presence in these specific niches suggests an adaptation to high-moisture soils and shaded or semi-shaded conditions common to forest ecosystems and flowing water bodies.

Elevational range max:

3300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, rivers

Life history

The life history of Mentha aquatica is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions primarily as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter. Additionally, the species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal cycle. This combination of a perennial lifecycle, its classification as a hemicryptophyte, and its deciduous growth habit dictates its ability to survive seasonal changes and re-emerge in subsequent years.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Mentha aquatica is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining an independent existence without parasitic or epiphytic tendencies, as it is strictly a terrestrial species. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a variable height, typically ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1 m, with a mean plant height of approximately 0.383 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.383 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Mentha aquatica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for many members of the Lamiaceae family operating in temperate or aquatic environments. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying primarily on organic and inorganic substrates absorbed through its root system rather than capturing prey. Morphologically, the foliage is characterized by a mean leaf size of approximately 17.22438 cm², which contributes to its overall photosynthetic capacity. Furthermore, the plant possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 299.64 cm²/g, a physiological indicator that reflects its leaf thickness and the efficiency of its light-harvesting structures relative to its biomass.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

17.22438 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

299.64 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Mentha aquatica is primarily driven by sexual processes through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being notably absent. The flowering period is relatively concentrated, typically starting in July and concluding in August. During this stage, the plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Once fertilization occurs—which is characterized by the absence of self-fertilization—the plant produces dry fruits. These fruits contain a significant number of seeds, typically ranging between 101 and 1000 seeds per fruit. The individual seeds are characterized by a consistent volume of 0.19 mm³ and a mean mass of approximately 0.00011658 g, with values ranging from a minimum of 0.0001 g to a maximum of 0.00014 g. Following maturation, the plant employs a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, utilizing water to transport its seeds to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00014 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000116583333333333 g

Seed mass min:

1e-04 g

Seed volume max:

0.19 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Mentha aquatica has 98 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (+)-Isomenthone, (+)-Menthofuran, (+)-Neomenthol, (+)-Neomenthyl acetate, (+)-Pulegone.

(+)-Isomenthone

1. Dr. Duke

(+)-Menthofuran

1. Dr. Duke

(+)-Neomenthol

1. Dr. Duke

(+)-Neomenthyl acetate

1. Dr. Duke

(+)-Pulegone

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Limonene

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Menthone

1. Dr. Duke

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke

1-OCTEN-3-OL

1. Dr. Duke

2,4-DECADIENAL

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Mentha aquatica has 322 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Anticancer, Anticholinesterase, Antiobesity.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmaceutical biology
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Anticholinesterase

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Antiobesity

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

MAO-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ABeta-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Mentha aquatica has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Parkinson's disease, SARS-CoV-2, anticholinesterase, antioxidant, common cold.

Parkinson's disease

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Sars-cov-2

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Anticholinesterase

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Antioxidant

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Common cold

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Depression

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Oxidative stress

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Respiratory diseases

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Tumors

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Preparations

Mentha aquatica has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Extracts, essential oils.

Extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Essential oils

1. Natural product communications