Peppermint, botanically known as Mentha piperita L. is an aromatic perennial herb, producing creeping stolons, that belongs to family Lamiaceae. It is the natural hybrid from M. aquatica L. and M. spicata L.
The plant grows from 45 to 80 cm tall, resembling M. spicata closely and differing in relatively long petiolated opposite lanceolate leaves and broader inflorescence. The stem is quadrangular, channelled, purplish, somewhat hairy and branching towards the top. The leaves are opposite, petiolate, ovate, sharply seriate, pointed, smoother on the upper than on the under surface, and of a dark green colour, which is paler beneath.
The leaf lamina (4–14 cm) possesses hair and glandular trichomes on both the surfaces. Usually the lower surface of leaves contain more glandular trichomes than the upper surface. The inflorescence is verticillate. The flowers are small, purple, and in terminal obtuse spikes, interrupted below, and cymosely arranged.
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