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[F. men terie, lying, falsehood, Loudmentery small con futation needs. G. Harvey, Sonnets, xix. Mentha (men'thä), n. [NL. (Tournefort, 1700), IMG:content-0479.png:[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small] mention aromatic labiate plants belonging to the tribe Satureineæ, type of the subtribe Menthoideæ. It is characterized by 4 stamens, which are nearly equal and distant or diverging, with parallel anther-cells, and by a calyx which is 10-nerved and 5-toothed. Over 300 species have been described, but the plants vary greatly, and the number may be reduced to 25; they are widely distributed over the world, but are found principally in the temperate regions. They are erect diffuse herbs with opposite leaves, and flowers in dense whorls, arranged in terminal or axillary heads or spikes. The common name of the genus is mint. See mint 2, horsemint, hillwort, penny