Monarda citriodora

Lemon mint ( Monarda citriodora )

Called The lemon mint ( Monarda citriodora ), also Fragrant Indian nettle, Indian mint, bergamot prairie, prairie balm and lemon balm, a species of the genus Monarda is ( Monarda ) in the mint family ( Lamiaceae).

Features

The lemon mint is an upright -growing, annual to perennial herbaceous plant that reaches the plant height of 15 to 80 centimeters. The against-constant leaves are simple and narrow. The leaf margin is serrated.

The flowers are borne in several whorls. The ends of the foliage leaf-like, white to pink bracts awned. The hermaphrodite flowers are zygomorphic and fünfzählig. The 14 to 18 mm long calyx ends with five 4-8 mm long calyx teeth. The crown is white or pink, purple colored dots are not present. Pollination is mostly by bees; this species is self-fertile.

The flowering period extends from June to August.

Occurrence

The lemon mint grows on limestone slopes in the central and southern United States and northern Mexico.

Use

The lemon mint is often cultivated as an ornamental plant in summer flower beds.

The leaves can be eaten raw and cooked. They have a lemony flavor. The essential oil can be used as a repellent against stinging insects.

In the U.S., they will also be used as an aromatic plant, tea and insecticide.

Documents

• Entry at Plants for a Future. (English )
• Corner Hardt J. Hunter, Friedrich Ebel, Peter Hanelt, Gerd Müller K. (ed.): Rothmaler Exkursionsflora of Germany. Volume 5: Herbaceous ornamental and useful plants. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 20 | Monarda citriodora08, ISBN 978-3-8274-0918-8.