Mentha suaveolens Ehrh.

Rhizomatous, densely hairy perennial with erect, branched stems to c. 70 cm tall. Lvs sessile or nearly so, smaller below infl., 1.5–4.5 × 0.8–3 cm, broad, usually elliptic, sometimes ovate or oblong-ovate, rugose, crenulate or crenulate-serrate, often grey-tomentose at least below, with oil globules below; base cordate or subcordate and often ± amplexicaul. Infl. of several narrow elongated terminal spikes, densely hairy, freely branching at base; central spike to c. 8 cm long, the others shorter; fls pedicellate. Calyx 1.5–2.5 mm long, broad-campanulate, ± green, glandular, hairy; teeth equal, acuminate, = tube at anthesis. Corolla 3–3.5 mm long, pale pink or whitish; lobes ± hairy; tube exserted. Stamens exserted or included. Nutlets c. 0.8 mm long, ovoid, bluntly angled, reticulate.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Jan.–Apr.