Scientific Family
Lamiaceae
Other common names
lemon mint
purple horsemint
plains horsemint
lemon horsemint
horsemint
purple lemon mint
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Biennial or perennial
Height
To 24 inches
Riparian
No
Unusual, tuft-like, whorled flower heads; each whorl in the elongated spike has leaf-like bracts below the flowers. Distinctive citrus or lemony scent when the leaves are rubbed or crushed.
Annual to 24 inches tall; stems usually branching from base;Â leaves lance-like to oblong, minutely hairy, margins toothed; flowers interrupted spikes of 3 to 6 whorls; bracts bent downward; flower opening hairy, petals white or pink or purplish.
Habitat
Found in chaparral, oak and pinyon-juniper woodlands and ponderosa pine forests.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Low elevation
3000
High elevation
9600
Flower Characteristics
Flowers are produced in 2 to 3 whorls from a central stem with a whorl of large bracts; individual flowers have a green calyx with 5 teeth and 2-lipped corolla; upper lip of white to pink or purplish corolla is smooth and the lower lip is 3-lobed.
Flower color
White, pink, purplish
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
Yes
First bloom month
July
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems often branching or simple; stalked leaves, oblong or lance-like, margins toothed outward or with sharp teeth pointing forward.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Oval; smooth to marked like a net or network (reticulate).
Fruit type
Nutlet