Mentha × villosa (syn: Mentha alopecuroides, Mentha nemorosa, Mentha villosa var. alopecuroides) also known as hairy mint or mojito mint is a hybrid species of mint, a cross between Mentha spicata and Mentha suaveolens.[1][2]
| Mentha × villosa | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Mentha |
| Species: | M. × villosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mentha × villosa Huds.
| |
This species is native to temperate and warm temperate regions of Europe and occurs in meadows, pastures, and ruderal locations.[3] However, it is cultivated in many other countries throughout the world.
In Cuba and the Philippines, this species is known as yerba buena or hierbabuena. In Cuba, it is a core ingredient in the mojito cocktail, though other mints such as spearmint are used where mojito mint is not available.[4][5][6] In the Philippines, this species has a long history of medicinal use and is one of 10 medicinal plant species that the Philippine government has endorsed as effective.[7]
Description
editMentha × villosa is a herbaceous, rhizomatous, perennial plant that grows to be 30–60 cm (12–24 in) tall, with smooth stems, square in cross section. The rhizomes are wide-spreading and fleshy, and bear fibrous roots.
Cultivation
editHistorically, this species has been included in European medicinal and aromatic plant gardens, though its cultivation in Europe is in decline.[3] However, the mojito mint variety from Cuba has become increasingly popular in the United States and elsewhere as a culinary garden plant for making mojitos and other culinary uses.[8]
References
edit- ^ Kew Plants of the World Online: Mentha × villosa Huds.
- ^ "313220". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
- ^ a b Eckehart J. Jäger, Friedrich Ebel, Peter Hanelt, Gerd K. Müller (eds.) (2008). Rothmaler: Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Band 5: Krautige Zier- und Nutzpflanzen. Berlin: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag. ISBN 978-3-8274-0918-8. p. 496.
- ^ "Mojito (Rum Spritzer)" from Miami Spice: The New Florida Cuisine by Steven Raichlen, 1993. ISBN 0761164391. p. 12
- ^ "Rum Cocktails" by Bill Kte’pi. In: Scott C. Martin (ed) (2015). The SAGE Encyclopedia of Alcohol: Social, Cultural, and Historical Perspectives. Vol 2, p. 1082-1084.
- ^ "Original Cuban Mojito: Hierbabuena or Spearmint?" by John Kiely, Cookmundo (blog), 28 April, 2018. (Archived from original 28 March, 2022 at Archive.org)
- ^ Rodriguez JP, Tolosa EN, Legaspi CLB. (2023). "Pharmacologic Activities of Yerba Buena (Mentha x villosa Huds. Fam. Lamiaceae): An Overview." Acta Medica Philippina: Early Access 2023. doi:10.47895/amp.vi0.8401
- ^ "Grow Mojito Mint" JoyusGarden.com(accessed Nov. 29, 2022)
Media related to Mentha × villosa at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Mentha × villosa at Wikispecies
 | This Lamiaceae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |