- This Lamiaceae family is also known as the mint famil.
- With 263 genera and as many as 7200 species, this family of flowering plants is a big one, however not the largest. That distinction belongs to the sunflower family with approximatly 24,000 species.
- Plants in this family are aromatic.
- Many culinary herbs such as rosemary, lavender, sage, savory, marjoram, oregano, thyme, basil, mint and lemon balm belong to this family.
- Mentha, otherwise known as True Mint, is a genus belonging to this family.
- “The Northwest accounts for about 80 percent of the total U.S. mint crop”. (http://www.capitalpress.info/idaho/dw-mint-harvest-w-art-092410) Yakima Valley is the largest producer of peppermint and spearmint oils in the USA.
- Distinguishing family characteristics include equal and opposite leaves, square stems and lipped flowers.
- Some members of this family such as bee balm, salvia, hyssop and phlomis add color and beauty in perennial gardens. These are known as ornamental mints.
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