MENTHA LONGIFOLIA

Mentha Longifolia is one of the permanent plant of my terrace . With its silvery frosted green leaves gives the velvet feelıng when touched .It grows under any plant and very decoratively cover the pots . Leaves are narrow but when young more oblong . Identification of the mints can be quite difficult simply because they are very variable and easily hybridized . In literature Longifolia smell noted as unpleasant or at least some people say so . However the one , I have , has very soft spicy smell of mint compare to regular mint which smells sharply . Therefore identification needs special attention. As I observe on my terrace flowers attract more bees and insect that other plants. There is always a very high traffic on this particular plant.
Some varieties like Mentha longifolia subsp capensis with its strong smell can be used as mosquito repellent if it is rubbed onto the body.
legend and history of the mint in Greece , Asia Minor and middleeast in general is also fun to read . History goes back as early as Minoens 2600 - 1150 BC . This important civilization of island of Crete had a great tradition of kitchen and herbal cooking , after the greek ended minoen and inherited their values they carried on this great culture of cooking . Most probably other nations of the region like Hitite , Lydian , Phrygians, Karian , Lykians and Ionians also use this particular plant in their cooking. Tradition has been carried on and plant is as popular as before maybe even more in the region today.
Mentha name comes from ' Minthe ' a charming nymph in classic Greek mythology who was much adored by Pluto , so the legend goes this angered Pluto's wife Prosperina , that she took her revenge by metamorphosing minthes into the humble mint plant we now know as Mentha .

Fresh or dry leaves make excellent tea , flavor jellies , souces dressing and drinks..Maybe most widely used plant ever in kitchen.
It also used medically in various way . One can find great reading about it on web.

Even though I don't have European Pennyroyal (Mentha Pulegium) on my terrace I would like to give short notes about it. First of all American pennyroyal classified as ( Hedeoma Pulegium ) . So distinction must be made if studied or write something about them.
Ants don't like pennyroyal . If planted around large ant population areas colonies change their location immediately .
Accordingly oil extracts from Pennyroyal strong insect repellent. Dog collar when soaked in an infusion of Pennyroyal can be very effective as flea repellent.

Caution......The essential oil taken internally could be fatal . Volatile oil of Mentha Pulegium is approx. 85 % ketone , pulegone..And this compound described as toxic compound.
It cause abortion in women . Taking the oil internally to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is extremely dangerous and many case reported that resulted in death..So use of it needs assistance and utmost care in details. Take a look at the picture of Pennyroyal so no confusion can take place in future.
Pictures taken by Cemil Yavuz Oncelay if you use any of them please give this page as a reference.