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Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Leaves - raw or cooked. A strong aromatic taste, they are used as a flavouring in salads and cooked foods, and also as an aromatic tea[1].

Unknown part

Material uses

The plant has a pleasing aroma and has been hung in the house as an incense[2].

Unknown part

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Horse mint was traditionally taken by several native North American Indian tribes to treat nausea and vomiting, and to encourage perspiration during colds. It was also applied externally as a poultice to treat swellings and rheumatic pains[3]. Nowadays it is used primarily to treat digestive and upper respiratory tract problems[3].

The leaves are carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, rubefacient, stimulant, stomachic and vesicant[4][5][6]. An infusion of the leaves is used in the treatment of flatulence, nausea, indigestion, catarrh in the upper respiratory tract, and to induce sweating and promote urination[4][3]. The herb is principally used externally as a rubefacient, applied as a poultice it helps to lessen the pain of arthritic joints by increasing the flow of blood in the area and thereby hastening the flushing out of toxins[4][3]. The leaves can be harvested before the plant flowers, or they can be harvested with the flowering stems. They can be used fresh or dried[6].

The plant is a rich source of the medicinal essential oil 'thymol', which is antiseptic[4][7][8]. The plant has been commercially cultivated for its essential oil, though this is now produced synthetically[8]. Thymol is also an effective hookworm remedy, but must be ingested in such large quantities that it can prove fatal to the patient[7].

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow mid to late spring in a cold frame. Germination usually takes place within 10 - 40 days at 20°c. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.

The seed can also be sown in situ in late summer in areas where the winters are not too severe and will produce larger plants. Cuttings of soft basal shoots in spring. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.

Division in spring or autumn. Large divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Monarda punctata. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Easily grown in ordinary garden soil so long as it is not too dry[9][10]. Requires a moist soil and a sunny position[10]. This species prefers a light dry alkaline soil[6].

Plants are hardy to about -10°c[11] and should succeed outdoors in most parts of Britain. A polymorphic species[10].

A good bee plant[10]. Subject to mildew in dry summers[10].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Monarda punctata. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Monarda punctata.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Monarda punctata
Genus
Monarda
Family
Labiatae
Imported References
Edible uses
Medicinal uses
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
6
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
Soil Texture
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    Fertility
    Pollinators
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type

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    "image:Monarda punctataUGA1120190.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Monarda punctataUGA1120190.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


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    "image:Monarda punctataUGA1120190.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Monarda punctataUGA1120190.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Monarda punctataUGA1120190.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Monarda punctataUGA1120190.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Monarda punctataUGA1120190.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Monarda punctataUGA1120190.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Monarda punctataUGA1120190.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.1 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.1 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.4 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.4 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.3 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.2 Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. ISBN 0395467225 (1990-00-00)
    9. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    10. ? 10.010.110.210.310.410.5 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    11. ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. ISBN 0-330-37376-5 (1998-00-00)
    12. ? Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. (1950-00-00)
    13. ? Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. ISBN 0-486-22642-5 (1970-00-00)

    "image:Monarda punctataUGA1120190.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Facts about "Monarda punctata"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyLabiatae +
    Belongs to genusMonarda +
    Has binomial nameMonarda punctata +
    Has common nameHorse Mint +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partUnknown part +
    Has edible useCondiment + and Tea +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile + and Bees +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone6 +
    Has imageMonarda punctataUGA1120190.jpg +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual + and Perennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useEssential + and Incense +
    Has mature height0.75 +
    Has mature width0.4 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntiseptic +, Carminative +, Diaphoretic +, Diuretic +, Emmenagogue +, Rubefacient +, Stimulant +, Stomachic + and Vesicant +
    Has primary imageMonarda punctataUGA1120190.jpg +
    Has search namemonarda punctata + and horse mint +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy +, Clay + and Heavy clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameMonarda punctata +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Monarda punctata +, Monarda punctata +, Monarda punctata +, Monarda punctata +, Monarda punctata +, Monarda punctata +, Monarda punctata +, Monarda punctata +, Monarda punctata +, Monarda punctata +, Monarda punctata +, Monarda punctata + and Monarda punctata +