Taxon:  Mentha suaveolens Ehrh.



Summary
Genus:
Mentha
Section:
Mentha
Family:
Lamiaceae (alt. Labiatae)
Subfamily:
Nepetoideae
Tribe:
Mentheae
Subtribe:
Menthinae
Nomen number:
313976
Place of publication:
Beitr. Naturk. 7:149.  1792
Verified:
09/19/2011 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
7 (7  active, 0  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. subsp. insularis (Req. ex Gren. & Godr.) Greuter (1 active accession[s])
Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. subsp. suaveolens (22 active accession[s])
Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. subsp. timija (Briq.) Harley (1 active accession[s])
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Invalid Designation(s)
Mentha rotundifolia auct.
Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)
Seed

Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
  2. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  3. Allan, H. H. B. et al. 1961-. Flora of New Zealand.
  4. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  5. Arechavaleta, M. et al., coords. 2009. Lista de especies silvestres de Canarias: hongos, plantas y animales terrestres
  6. Başer, K. H. C. et al. 2012. Essential oils of Mentha species from Marmara region of Turkey. J. Essential Oil Res. 24:265-272.
  7. Bleeker, W. et al. 2007. Interspecific hybridisation between alien and native plant species in Germany and its consequences for native biodiversity. Biol. Conservation 137:248-253. Note: mentions hybrids between native Mentha suaveolens and introduced M. spicata
  8. Božović, M. et al. 2015. Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. (Lamiaceae) essential oils and its main constituent Piperitenone Oxide: Biological activities and chemistry. Molecules 20:8605-8633. DOI: 10.3390/molecules20058605.
  9. Castroviejo, S. et al., eds. 1989-. Flora iberica: plantas vasculares de la Peninsula Iberica e Islas Baleares.
  10. Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
  11. Denslow, M. W. & D. B. Pointdexter. 2009. Mentha suaveolens and M. × rotundifolia in North Carolina: A clarification of distribution and taxonomic identity. J. Bot. Res. Inst. Texas 3:383-389.
  12. Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1554.
  13. Forzza, R. C. et al., coord. Lista de espécies da flora do Brasil (on-line resource).
  14. Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
  15. Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
  16. Hansen, A. & P. Sunding. 1993. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 4. Sommerfeltia vol. 17.
  17. Harley, R. M. & C. Brighton. 1977. Chromosome numbers in the genus Mentha L. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 74:71-96. Note: a diploid, 2n=24
  18. Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
  19. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. 2008. Flora del Conosur. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares.
  20. Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2
  21. Mulas, M. 2006. Traditional uses of Labiatae in the Mediterranean area. Acta Hort. 723:25-32. Note: lists its use as aromatic, medicinal and cosmetic (perfumery)
  22. Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
  23. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  24. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  25. Sell, P. & G. Murrell. 1996-. Flora of Great Britain and Ireland.
  26. Silva, L. et al. 2005. Listagem da fauna e flora terrestres dos Açores. Lista des plantas vasculares (Pteridophyta e Spermatophyta).
  27. Sutour, S. et al. 2008. Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oil from Mentha suaveolens ssp. insularis (Req.) Greuter. Flav. Fragr. J. 23:107-114. Note: mentions as subspecies suaveolens
  28. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  29. Vermeulen, N. 1999. Encyclopaedia of Herbs. 317. Note: Rebo Productions, Netherlands.
  30. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
Englishapple mint  1Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
Englishpineapple mint  1Vermeulen, N. 1999. Encyclopaedia of Herbs. 317. Note: Rebo Productions, Netherlands.
Englishround-leaf mint  1Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
GermanApfelminze  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Germanrundblättrige Minze  2Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen 1554.
Spanishmastranzo  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedishrundmynta  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAfricaMacaronesiaPortugalMadeira Islands Hansen, A. & P. Sunding. 1993. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 4. Sommerfeltia vol. 17.
1NativeAfricaMacaronesiaSpainCanarias Arechavaleta, M. et al., coords. 2009. Lista de especies silvestres de Canarias: hongos, plantas y animales terrestres
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaAlgeria n.Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaMorocco  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaTunisia  Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaTurkey w.Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeBelgium  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeGermany  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeNetherlands  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeSwitzerland  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeNorthern EuropeUnited Kingdom  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeGreece incl. CreteGreuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeItaly incl. Sardinia, SicilyGreuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeFrance incl. CorsicaTutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropePortugal  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeSpain incl. BalearesTutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
2CultivatedAsia-TemperateChinaChina  Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
2CultivatedAustralasiaNew ZealandNew Zealand  Allan, H. H. B. et al. 1961-. Flora of New Zealand.
2CultivatedEurope Europe  Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
2CultivatedNorthern America United States  Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
4NaturalizedAfricaMacaronesiaPortugalAzores Silva, L. et al. 2005. Listagem da fauna e flora terrestres dos Açores. Lista des plantas vasculares (Pteridophyta e Spermatophyta).
4NaturalizedAustralasiaNew ZealandNew Zealand  Allan, H. H. B. et al. 1961-. Flora of New Zealand.
4NaturalizedEuropeMiddle EuropeAustria  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
4NaturalizedEuropeMiddle EuropeCzechoslovakia  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
4NaturalizedEuropeMiddle EuropePoland  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
4NaturalizedEuropeNorthern EuropeDenmark  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
4NaturalizedEuropeNorthern EuropeIreland  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
4NaturalizedEuropeNorthern EuropeSweden  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
4NaturalizedEuropeNorthern EuropeUnited Kingdom  Sell, P. & G. Murrell. 1996-. Flora of Great Britain and Ireland.
4NaturalizedEuropeSoutheastern EuropeFormer Yugoslavia  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
4NaturalizedEuropeSoutheastern EuropeRomania  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
4NaturalizedNorthern America United States  Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaBrazilBrazilBahia Forzza, R. C. et al., coord. Lista de espécies da flora do Brasil (on-line resource).
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaSouthern South AmericaChile  Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. 2008. Flora del Conosur. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares.
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaSouthern South AmericaParaguayCentral Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. 2008. Flora del Conosur. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares.
Native
Africa
  • MACARONESIA: Spain [Canarias], Portugal [Madeira Islands]
  • NORTHERN AFRICA: Algeria (n.), Morocco, Tunisia
Asia-Temperate
  • WESTERN ASIA: Turkey (w.)
Europe
  • NORTHERN EUROPE: United Kingdom
  • MIDDLE EUROPE: Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands
  • SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Greece (incl. Crete), Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily)
  • SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal
Cultivated
Asia-Temperate
  • CHINA: China
Australasia
  • NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand
Europe
  • REGION: Europe
Northern America
  • REGION: United States
Naturalized
Africa
  • MACARONESIA: Portugal [Azores]
Australasia
  • NEW ZEALAND: New Zealand
Europe
  • NORTHERN EUROPE: Denmark, United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden
  • MIDDLE EUROPE: Czechoslovakia, Austria, Poland
  • SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Former Yugoslavia, Romania
Northern America
  • REGION: United States
Southern America
  • BRAZIL: Brazil [Bahia]
  • SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Chile, Paraguay [Central]

Reference(s)
  1. Allan, H. H. B. et al. 1961-. Flora of New Zealand.
  2. Arechavaleta, M. et al., coords. 2009. Lista de especies silvestres de Canarias: hongos, plantas y animales terrestres
  3. Davis, P. H., ed. 1965-1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands.
  4. Forzza, R. C. et al., coord. Lista de espécies da flora do Brasil (on-line resource).
  5. Greuter, W. et al., eds. 1984-. Med-Checklist.
  6. Hanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
  7. Hansen, A. & P. Sunding. 1993. Flora of Macaronesia: checklist of vascular plants, ed. 4. Sommerfeltia vol. 17.
  8. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. 2008. Flora del Conosur. Catálogo de las plantas vasculares.
  9. Sell, P. & G. Murrell. 1996-. Flora of Great Britain and Ireland.
  10. Silva, L. et al. 2005. Listagem da fauna e flora terrestres dos Açores. Lista des plantas vasculares (Pteridophyta e Spermatophyta).
  11. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  12. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Environmentalornamental Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
Environmentalornamental Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
Environmentalornamental Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
Food additivesflavoringas condimentSutour, S. et al. 2008. Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of the essential oil from Mentha suaveolens ssp. insularis (Req.) Greuter. Flav. Fragr. J. 23:107-114. Note: mentions as subspecies suaveolens
Human foodbeverage basefor preparing an herbal teaHanelt, P., ed. 2001. Mansfeld's encyclopedia of agricultural and horticultural crops. Volumes 1-6
Medicinesfolklorefor a "wide range of effects"Božović, M. et al. 2015. Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. (Lamiaceae) essential oils and its main constituent Piperitenone Oxide: Biological activities and chemistry. Molecules 20:8605-8633. DOI: 10.3390/molecules20058605.
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=313976. Accessed 12 May 2026.