Mentha spicata agg

Taxonomic note: Here taken to include M spicata, M suaveolens, M longifolia and their hybrids M x villosonervata, M x villosa, M x rotundifolia. Most of these are not likely to be found on Skye, M spicata and M x villosa being perhaps the most likely. The plants are so variable that it is very often impossible to assign a specimen to the right species or hybrid, and as these are non-native plants that include garden cultivars I take the view that most amateur botanists will be content to lump them.

Photo © Carl Farmer
12 Sep 2002 Portree, Isle of Skye

Found here and there in damp waste ground, often forming extensive stands

Flowerheads 5-15 mm across, narrower than in other mints.

Skye ID: ID'd as a mint by minty scent. Told from other Skye mints by: Leaves unstalked, or with stalks no longer than 3 mm; stem terminates in narrow cylindrical or spike-like flowerheads.

Other features: Inflorescence usually has several branches. Flowers white, pink or mauve. If the plant produces seeds it is probably M spicata, but could in theory be M suaveolens or M x rotundifolia. If it is sterile, it is probably M x villosa but could be M x villosonervata. M longifolia does not occur wild in the British Isles but is the parent of at least 2 hybrids that do.

Skye Flora