| Classification |
| Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order Type: Eudicots-Asterids I
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Family Common Name: Mint Family
Genera: Agastache, Callicarpa, Melissa, Mentha, Monarda, Ocimum,
Perovskia, Physostegia, Rosmarinus, Salvia, Solenostemon, Stachys |
Defining Features: Stems often
square, and plants are often covered in hairs and glands, which emit an
aromatic fragrance. Terpenes present.
Defining Morphology: Floral
Features: Inflorescences have indeterminate main axis and determinate lateral
axes, either axillary or terminal. Flowers bisexual and highly zygomorphic.
Calyx is funnel shaped and sometimes 2-lipped. Corolla is strongly divided
into and upper and lower lip. In temperate regions the upper lip is 2-lobed
and the bottom lip 3-lobed while in tropical regions the upper lip is 4-lobed
while the lower lip has only 1 lobe. Androecium is 4 or 2-epipetalous.
Ovaries are superior with a gynobasic style and axile placentation. Nectar
disk is present. Fruit and Seed Features: Dicotyledon. Fruit a schizocarp,
drupe or berry. Seeds have little or no oily endosperm with straight embryo.
Vegetative Features: Habit herbs, small shrubs and vines. Trees are rare
(Hyptis). Leaves simple, opposite and decussate. Estipulate.
Distribution: Cosmopolitan,
mostly on open ground.
Economic Use: As cultivated
garden and indoor ornamentals, herbs and essential oils.
Number of Genera Globally: 252
Number of Species Globally: 6,700
