Mentha

Ganie, Aijaz Hassan, Islam, Tajamul, Khuroo, Anzar Ahmad, Rasool, Nazima, Banoo, Sakina, Ali, Liyaqat & Reshi, Zafar A., 2024, Mentha choujunensis, a new species from Indian Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh, Phytotaxa 666 (2), pp. 155-162 : 160

Key to the species of Mentha section in India

1+ Inflorescence verticillate or capitate...................................................................................................................................................2

- Inflorescence spicate ..........................................................................................................................................................................3

2+ Leaves not decreasing in size toward the apex of the blooming stem, serrate, calyx with oil secreting glands............... M. arvensis

- Leaves decreasing in size toward the apex of the blooming stem, crenate with thin edge, calyx without oil secreting glands .......... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... M. aquatica

3+ Leaves rugose, ovate to suborbicular .................................................................................................................................................4

- Leaves smooth, oblong-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate ......................................................................................................................5

4+ Leaves all sessile, pubescent with scattered dendroid hairs on abaxial surface............................................................ M. suaveolens

- Leaves sessile to sub-sessile, glabrous ...............................................................................................................................................6

5+ Leaves sessile, oblong-lanceolate, base rounded to shallowly cordate, pedicel up to 2 mm, calyx 5-veined ................ M. longifolia

- Leaves petiolate, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, base oblique, pedicel 0.5–1.0 mm, calyx 8–10-veined ....................... M. choujunensis

6+ Inflorescence slender, up to 4.0 cm, interrupted, plants shiny green, with linear-subulate bracts ...................................... M. spicata

- Inflorescence robust; stems and leaves with indumentum .................................................................................................................7

7+ Plants purplish to dark green, indumentum thin, plants sterile ...................................................................................... M. × piperita

- Plants not purplish to dark green, indumentum thick, plants fertile................................................................................. M. royleana