Peppermint.
Mentha piperata.
Also see: Spear Mint - Water mint - Peppermint - Long Leaved Wild Mint - Penny-royal
A plant kept in our gardens, but much more resembling the wild mint last described, than the spear mint, both in form and qualities. It grows two feet and a half high. The stalk is square and firm, upright, and of a pale green; the leaves stand two at each joint: they are broad, not very long, of a dark green, and serrated deeply at the edges. The flowers grow in thick spikes, but not very long ones, they are large, and of a pale red. The whole plant has an agreeable quick smell, and a hot taste like pepper, but not disagreeable.
The whole plant is used fresh or dried; but the best way is to give the distilled water. It cures the colic, often almost instantaneously, and it is good against the gravel.
