lemon-mint

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• lemon-mint
• purple horsemint
• Lemon mint

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Monarda citriodora, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Monarda.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse range of locations across the United States. In the North-Central region, it can be found growing in Illinois. It is also widely distributed throughout Kansas and Missouri. Furthermore, its presence extends into Oklahoma within the same central territory. Finally, its geographical reach reaches into the Southwestern U.S.A., specifically in Arizona.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Monarda citriodora is characterized by a variable lifecycle, as it can manifest as an annual, biennial, or perennial depending on environmental conditions and local climate stability. In terms of its structural life form, the species is classified as a therophyte, a designation that reflects its strategy of completing its life cycle through specialized survival mechanisms. This life history pattern is further detailed through its classification as a therophyte within the broader botanical frameworks of nanophanerophyte, phanerophyte, chamaephyte, hemicryptophyte, geophyte, hydrophyte, helophyte, lithophyte, phanerophyte, chamaephyte, hemicryptophyte, cryptophyte, or therophyte categories, emphasizing its ability to persist and reproduce effectively across shifting seasonal patterns.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

variable

Morphology

The morphology of Monarda citriodora is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. As a self-supporting plant, it lacks any climber or liana tendencies, maintaining a structured upright habit without the need for external support. It is categorized as an independent organism, meaning it does not function as a parasite, and it is a terrestrial species rather than an aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic one. The plant's physical structure is defined by its non-woody nature, which is consistent with its classification as a herbaceous forb.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

Reproduction in Monarda citriodora is primarily achieved through the production of small, lightweight seeds that facilitate dispersal and the establishment of new individuals. These seeds exhibit specific morphological characteristics regarding their weight, which is critical for their buoyancy and ability to settle in suitable germination sites. Quantitative analysis of the seed mass reveals a mean weight of 0.000445 g. The distribution of seed sizes shows a narrow range, with the maximum recorded seed mass reaching 0.00048 g and the minimum seed mass recorded at 0.00041 g. This consistency in seed mass suggests a highly regulated reproductive strategy aimed at ensuring optimal resource allocation for each offspring during the dispersal phase.

Seed mass max:

0.00048 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000445 g

Seed mass min:

0.00041 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Monarda citriodora has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Planta

Chemicals

Monarda citriodora has 34 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include THYMOL, CARVACROL, P-CYMENE, 1,8-Cineole, 3-OCTANOL.

THYMOL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in chemistry
3. Planta

CARVACROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta

P-CYMENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke

3-OCTANOL

1. Dr. Duke

3-Octyl acetate

1. Dr. Duke

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha terpinene

1. Dr. Duke

Apigenin 7-glucoside

1. Pharmaceutics

BETA-CARYOPHYLLENE

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Monarda citriodora has 226 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include (-)-Chronotropic, (-)-Inotropic, ACE-Inhibitor, AChE-Inhibitor, Acaricide.

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

(-)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Monarda citriodora has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, MRSA, plant diseases, yeasts.

Gram-negative bacteria

1. Pharmaceutics

Gram-positive bacteria

1. Pharmaceutics

Mrsa

1. Microbiology spectrum

Plant diseases

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Yeasts

1. Pharmaceutics