Common name: Forest Mint
Mentha laxiflora Benth. APNI* 
Description: Procumbent herb to 60 cm high; branches sparsely to densely hairs, multicellular or retrorse hairs always present.
Leaves with lamina ovate or oblong-ovate, 1–4.5 cm long, 5–25 mm wide; apex obtuse to subacute; margins ± shallowly toothed; petiole 1–8 mm long.
Flowers in loose c. 4–8-flowered clusters in axil of a pair of leaves. Calyx c. 15-veined, fused to half its length; lobes subacute to pointed, sparsely to densely hairy. Corolla 4–7 mm long, white, pink, pale blue-mauve to mauve. Anthers exserted. Mericarps probably not developed.
Flowering: January–July.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in damp or swampy areas, particularly near rivers and creeks, mainly in clay-rich soils; widespread.
NSW subdivisions: CC, SC, CT, ST, NWS
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. S.A.
Text by B. J. Conn
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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