SLENDER MOUNTAIN MINT
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
MINT FAMILY (Lamiaceae)
Identification
- Flowering time - June, July, August
- Rare in Nebraska Prairie restoration at NW
- Square, smooth, hairless stem
- Two-lipped flower with purple spots
- Narrower leaves than Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)
This native perennial with a smooth, square stem grows up to 3 feet tall (A). The aromatic, narrow leaves are up to 2 inches long and less than 1/4 inch wide (C). At the top of the stem are dense clusters of rounded flower heads, each holding many individual 2-lipped flowers, the lower lip having 3 lobes. Flowers are white to lavender with purple spots (B).
This plant is rare in Nebraska Prairie at Neale Woods. Our plants, originating from seed used in the Nebraska Prairie Restoration, are outside of their usual range which extends into extreme southeast Nebraska. Flowering occurs from June through August.
Subtle differences separate this plant from Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum). Slender Mountain Mint, as its common name suggests, has narrower leaves no wider than 1/4 inch. For all but the very sharp-eyed, a hand lens will be needed to confirm that, unlike Virginia Mountain Mint, its square stem is smooth and hairless at the angles.
This species is also known as Narrow-leaved or Slender-leaved Mountain Mint.
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