Mint id please

[earthgraham]

This plant smells very strong of mint, but which one I'm not sure any help please.
,,

[Dorts]

It's Calamint , looks like one of the garden varieties but could be Lesser Calamint.
Dorts.

[earthgraham]

Thanks Dorts,I'v been keeping an eye out for Lesser Calamint as I know it grows in Essex.Is there any thing special I should look for to tell them apart?
(My book says hairs at the tip of sepal-tube but I was hopeing for something more obvious).Thanks again.graham

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by earthgraham

Thanks Dorts,I'v been keeping an eye out for Lesser Calamint as I know it grows in Essex.Is there any thing special I should look for to tell them apart?
(My book says hairs at the tip of sepal-tube but I was hopeing for something more obvious).Thanks again.graham

Yes, Lesser Calamint is an Essex speciality.
It is quite different from Common Calamint, but unless you are very familiar with that species, most of the books descriptions of, 'a bit longer here', or 'a little shorter there' are of little use.
It tends to have very few or no spots on the pale-lilac flowers. Leaves are a grey-green, sepals normaly with no, or very few hairs.

Stace says:
'Teeth of lower calyx-lobe 1- 2 mm, with hairs all 0.1mm or very few longer. Hairs in throat of calyx protrubing beyond tube.'

Lesser Calamint is sold for gardens and does escape, and some of these plants are 'selected' for a stronger flower-colour.

Common Calamint does not occur in Essex though it is quite common in N Kent, Suffolk and Norfolk.

Did you find you're plant in a truly 'wild' situation, or was it near habitation?
Dorts.

[earthgraham]

Thanks for your information Dorts,I found it half a mile from the nearest garden,
so could be ether wild or escape,I will have to find some more else were to compare.thanks again for your reply Dorts.