Narrative

Mint Family (Labiatae = Lamiaceae) contains over 5,000 species of plants of wide distribution. Many of the plants in this family are known for their tastes and smells. Peppermint, Catnip, and Sage are some of the better known species in this family. The square stems of this family are very helpful in field identification. Taking a stem between your fingers, and trying to roll it back and forth can be one of the first tests in trying to identify an unknown plant. As of 1994, there were about 473 species in 70 genera either native to or established in greater North America, including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and Greenland.

Taxonomy

References