Lamiaceae(Labiatae)

The Mint Family

Lamiaceae

Ca5 Coz5 A2+2 G2

• 180 genera/3500 species• Distribution worldwide; center of distribution is the Mediterranean region

Bilabiate flowers

Ovary G2, deeply 4-lobed

Herbs w/ opposite leaves, square stems

Style gynobasic

Recognition Characters

• Herbs with square stems

• Leaves opposite• Minty odor (sometimes)

• Flowers zygomorphic, often bilabiate

• Ovary 4-lobed; style gynobasic

• Fruit = nutlet (4)

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Lamiaceae - The Mint Family

Basil, Oregano, Rosemary,Sage, Savory, Thyme

sage

rosemary

Culinary herbs of the mint family

basil

mint

PatchouliPogostemon cablin

China and Indonesia

Fragrances:

(“The source, par excellence, of aromatic and antibiotic essential oils for the pharma-ceutical and cosmetics industries …”)

LavenderLavender

Local flora:

Physostegia virginianaobedience

Scutellariagallericulata

skullcap

Mentha spicataspearmint

Prunella vulgarisSelf-heal

Stachys palustrisMarsh hedge nettle