apple mint

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• apple mint
• big-leaved mint
• round-leaved mint
• pineapple mint
• round-leaf mint

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Mentha × rotundifolia var. suaveolens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales and family Lamiaceae, it is classified under the genus Mentha.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of Denmark and Great Britain. Its presence is also noted in Ireland and Sweden, extending its reach across the northern territories. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species is located in Middle Europe. Specifically, its range includes the country of Austria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Mentha suaveolenis is characterized by a highly adaptable distribution across a vast altitudinal gradient, spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) to extreme high-altitude environments reaching up to 3,900 m AMSL. This wide elevational range allows the species to colonize diverse climatic zones, from lowland tropical or subtropical regions to high-mountain ecosystems. Furthermore, the species demonstrates a significant capacity for synanthropy, frequently occupying anthropogenic habitats (Área Antrópica), such as disturbed ground, cultivated areas, or sites modified by human activity, where it can thrive alongside human-altered landscapes.

Elevational range max:

3900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Mentha suaveolenس is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form in which the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic matter. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage as part of its seasonal cycle. Its growth strategy and survival are defined by its hemicryptophytic classification, ensuring its ability to re-emerge and thrive across successive years.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Mentha suaveolenz is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining an independent lifestyle as it is neither a parasite nor an epiphyte, growing instead in a terrestrial habitat. The plant exhibits a relatively low stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 1 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.5875 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.5875 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Mentha suaveolenes is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on traditional root-based nutrient uptake rather than trapping prey, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer. The plant's leaf morphology plays a significant role in its resource management, exhibiting an average leaf size of 14.8375 cm² with a mean width of 3 cm and a maximum leaf length reaching up to 4 cm. Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 274 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf density and its strategy for optimizing light interception and gas exchange relative to its biomass.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

4 cm

Leaf size mean:

14.8375 cm²

Leaf width mean:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

274 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Mentha suaveolens is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period is extensive and variable, typically beginning in December and concluding in October. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects such as bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen. In terms of fruit characteristics, the plant produces dry fruits with a mean length of 0.8 cm. The resulting seeds are highly uniform, with a consistent seed volume of 0.032 mm³ and a mean seed mass of 4.2e-05 g (ranging from a minimum to a maximum of 4e-05 g). Each fruit is prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. Following maturation, the seeds are distributed via a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, utilizing water as the primary medium for movement. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, necessitating cross-pollination for successful reproductive cycles.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flowering time :

Dec

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length mean:

0.8 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

4e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

4.2e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.032 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Mentha suaveolens has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Piperitenone oxide, LIMONENE, CARVONE, JASMONE, Piperitenone.

Piperitenone oxide

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. BMC plant biology
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

LIMONENE

1. Pharmaceutical biology
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

CARVONE

1. Pharmaceutical biology

JASMONE

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Piperitenone

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Viridiflorol

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

p-Cymen-8-ol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Mentha suaveolens has 6 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Analgesic, Antigiardial.

Antibacterial

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Antioxidant

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
3. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Antidiabetic

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Advances in pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antigiardial

1. Veterinary parasitology

Antimicrobial

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Medicinal Uses

Mentha suaveolens has 18 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations