Some strange kind of mint?

[K_mommy0407]

I bought this small plant at Home Depot yesterday.* It was simply labeled "mint," with the scientific name just "menthe species."* (Yeah, that's helpful...)* When I tried to do research on it, I couldn't find the species.* I want to use it for tea and cooking, but I'm very worried that it may be pennyroyal, which would not be good for consumption, or so I understand.* Can you help me narrow it down?

I've included links to a picture of the plant and a close-up of the leaves.* The leaves have fine hairs but I wouldn't call them fuzzy.* Also, the stems are very vine-like.

http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/e...rent=mint1.jpg

http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/e...intcloseup.jpg

[Newt]

I find it difficult to distinguish the different mints from each other.* I would suspect only a botanist might be able to do that.* Here's a close-up of pennyroyal aka Mentha pulegium.
http://florabase.calm.wa.gov.au/scie...ge/6883ic1.jpg

You might want to ask at the University of British Columbia Botanical Gardens forum where several botanists hang out.* The first link is their main page and the second is the forum to post your picture and question at.* Do let them know where you live as it's a Canadian site.
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/fo...ffb27b3a8f929&
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/fo...splay.php?f=38

I'd love to know if you get an id for it.
Newt

[K_mommy0407]

Thanks, Newt.* I'll do that.

Kristina

[K_mommy0407]

Well, I posted it over at UBC, and was told that although they don't know what it is, they don't think it is pennyroyal because, among other things, the smell is not overpoweringly strong.

I also asked Mr. Smarty Plants over at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, so maybe I'll get a more precise answer.* I'm thinking, though, I may have to be satisfied with just "mint."

I'll let you know if I get another answer.

[Newt]

Kristina, thanks for getting back to me.* I didn't think they could id which mint it is as they are so difficult to id.* I doubt that Mister Smarty Plants will know either, but there's always hope.* :)*

At least you know you can enjoy some in your tea.

Newt

[K_mommy0407]

Yes, I'm beginning to understand how many different kinds of mint there are!* I think I might be good with just calling it "mint" at this point.* As long is it's not toxic and I can use it liberally.

Someone from UBC even suggested that because of the weird looking stems, it may not even be a mint at all, but just some Lamiaceae.* It does have a mint smell, but at the same time it is kind of an odd mint scent.* Why don't we have scratch and sniff keys on the computer?

[K_mommy0407]

The curator of collections at UBC suggested it may be Could be Satureja douglasii (yerba buena).

[Newt]

Thanks so much for getting back to me.* At least it will make a good groundcover and a good tea too.*
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-...reja-douglasii

Newt

[K_mommy0407]

Exactly.* Thanks for your help!* I did buy another mint plant today, but it was actually marked what it was.* I'll still keep the other one, though.* A mix of the two should make a nice tea.

[Newt]

I just love herb tea.* Around the Christmas holiday, Celestial Seasonings makes a tea called 'Sugar Plum Spice' that I just love on a cold day.*
http://www.celestialseasonings.com/p...gar-plum-spice

They also make one called 'Candy Cane Lane' that I'd bet you would like.
http://www.celestialseasonings.com/p...andy-cane-lane

Newt