Unidentified Mint Family

[Mike_Howles]

This has been found amongst known Mint plants in the kitchen garden but was never deliberately planted. We would like to know what it is, thanks. It does not smell very nice when the leaves are rubbed. The flowers are very small, stems is square and the edges have a red colour.

[aeshna5]

I can see why you thought mint family, but it's a figwort (Scrophulariaceae). The leaf shape looks like Water Figwort, Scrophularia auriculata, rather than the more pointed leaves of Common Figwort, S. nodosa, but would be good to see more + whether the stems are winged or not ( a feature of the former species).

[Dorts]

I'd say it's Common Figwort - Scrophularia nodosa from what I can see. Very widespread on damp, cultivated and waste grount.
Dorts.

[Mike_Howles]

Since your posts I have had a look at other images of Common Figwort on the internet and it appears to be that plant as described.

Thanks for your help.

If I take some more photos I will post them. The stem is definately square and the 'corners' are somewhat extended as if the sides have been squashed in a bit.

Mike

[Dorts]

Mike, I've had a longer look at your plant and I'm slightly baffled.
The leaves, as Aeshna5 pointed out, are rounded at the ends like Water Figwort, but the leaves have very short stalks as in Common F. The flowers are large enough for Water F.
Common F. is by far the 'smelliest' of the two which fits your plant.
As hybrids don't exist as far as I'm aware, it must be one of the two. A few more pics may help, close-up of stem and flower would be good. Cross-section of stem would be brilliant.
Dorts.

[King Edward]

I think this has got to be Water Figwort. Apart from the rounded leaves, you can also see the broad pale sepal margins in photo 1.

Originally Posted by Mike_Howles

The stem is definately square and the 'corners' are somewhat extended as if the sides have been squashed in a bit.

Winged stems like this also point to Water Figwort.