About American Mint
Mesosphaerum suaveolens, synonym Hyptis suaveolens, chia, pignut, or chan, bukumbar is a branching pseudocereal plant native to tropical regions of Mexico, Central, the West Indies, and South America, as well as being naturalized in tropical parts of Africa, Asia and Australia. It is generally 1–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft) tall, occasionally up to 3 m (9.8 ft). Stems are hairy, and square in cross section. Leaves are oppositely arranged, 2–10 cm (0.79–3.94 in) long, with shallowly toothed margins, and emit a strong minty odor if crushed. Flowers are pink or purple, arranged in clusters of 1–5 in the upper leaf axils.
Description adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Plant Details
- Scientific name
- Hyptis suaveolens
- Genus
- Hyptis
- Family
- LAMIACEAE
- Habit
- Shrub
- Habitat
- Degraded moist and dry deciduous forests, also in waste places and road sides
- Native to
- Central America
- Distribution
- Naturalized in tropics
- Flowering & fruiting
- Throughout the year
- Conservation status
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Local Names
- Nepali
- वन सिलाम
- Bengali
- বিলাতি তুলসী
- Telugu
- హిప్తిస్ సావెలెన్స్
- Malayalam
- നരിപ്പൂച്ചി
Lamiaceae
Mint/Sage family
American Mint belongs to the Lamiaceae family.
The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.
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