Acanthomintha
Encyclopedia
Acanthomintha is a genus
of the Lamiaceae
, or mint family. The Acanthomintha genus is commonly referred to as Thornmint. There are a number of species within this genus, including the endangered species
Acanthomintha duttonii
. All four thornmints are native to the California Floristic Province
. The origin of the genus name is from the identical Greek word meaning thornmint.
There are four species of Acanthomintha:
s with erect stems and petiole
d leaves. Inflorescence
s of thornmints are head-like, in clusters and terminal in form. In the The Acanthomintha genus
leaf veins are conspicuous and the leaf margins are always spiny, leading to the common name. The characteristics of the genus flower are with a two-lipped calyx
and lobes spine-tipped, re-inforcing the basis of the common name. All Acanthomintha have the upper three lobes of its calyx acuminate and the lower two lobes oblong in shape. Acanthomintha corollae are funnel shaped, always white, but sometimes with a tinging of rose or lavender color. The corolla throat is cream colored and its upper lip is hooded, while the longer lower lip is reflexed and three-lobed. All Acanthomintha have four stamen
s, with the upper two reduced, whether they are sterile or not. Thornmint style
s are slender and their fruit is ovoid in shape with smooth exterior texture.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of the Lamiaceae
Lamiaceae
The mints, taxonomically known as Lamiaceae or Labiatae, are a family of flowering plants. They have traditionally been considered closely related to Verbenaceae, but in the 1990s, phylogenetic studies suggested that many genera classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae...
, or mint family. The Acanthomintha genus is commonly referred to as Thornmint. There are a number of species within this genus, including the endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
Acanthomintha duttonii
Acanthomintha duttonii
Acanthomintha duttonii is a species of annual plant endemic to San Mateo County, California in the Lamiaceae family. It is commonly called San Mateo Thornmint or Dutton's acanthomintha and is found growing on Serpentine soils near the Crystal Springs Reservoir in a six mile long strip on the east...
. All four thornmints are native to the California Floristic Province
California Floristic Province
The California Floristic Province is a floristic province with a Mediterranean climate located on the Pacific Coast of North America with a distinctive flora that bears similarities to floras found in other regions experiencing a winter rainfall, summer drought climate like the Mediterranean...
. The origin of the genus name is from the identical Greek word meaning thornmint.
There are four species of Acanthomintha:
- Acanthomintha duttoniiAcanthomintha duttoniiAcanthomintha duttonii is a species of annual plant endemic to San Mateo County, California in the Lamiaceae family. It is commonly called San Mateo Thornmint or Dutton's acanthomintha and is found growing on Serpentine soils near the Crystal Springs Reservoir in a six mile long strip on the east...
(Abrams) Jokerst: San Mateo thorn-mint - Acanthomintha ilicifoliaAcanthomintha ilicifoliaAcanthomintha ilicifolia, known by the common name San Diego thornmint, is a rare species of flowering plant in the mint family. It is native to Baja California and San Diego County, California, where it is a resident of the chaparral and coastal sage scrub plant communities and vernal...
(Gray): San Diego thorn-mint, San Diego thornmint - Acanthomintha lanceolataAcanthomintha lanceolataAcanthomintha lanceolata is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name Santa Clara thornmint. It is endemic to California, where it is known from several counties surrounding and south of the San Francisco Bay Area...
(Curran): Santa Clara thorn-mint - Acanthomintha obovataAcanthomintha obovataAcanthomintha obovata is a species of flowering plant in the mint family known by the common name San Benito thornmint. It is endemic to California, where it grows in the woodland and chaparral of the coastal mountain ranges in the central part of the state.This is a small annual herb growing up to...
(Jepson): San Benito thorn-mint
Genus morphology
All thornmints are aromatic annual wildflowerWildflower
A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. Yet "wildflower" meadows of a few mixed species are sold in seed packets. The term "wildflower" has been made vague by commercial seedsmen who are interested in selling more flowers or seeds more...
s with erect stems and petiole
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
d leaves. Inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s of thornmints are head-like, in clusters and terminal in form. In the The Acanthomintha genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
leaf veins are conspicuous and the leaf margins are always spiny, leading to the common name. The characteristics of the genus flower are with a two-lipped calyx
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
and lobes spine-tipped, re-inforcing the basis of the common name. All Acanthomintha have the upper three lobes of its calyx acuminate and the lower two lobes oblong in shape. Acanthomintha corollae are funnel shaped, always white, but sometimes with a tinging of rose or lavender color. The corolla throat is cream colored and its upper lip is hooded, while the longer lower lip is reflexed and three-lobed. All Acanthomintha have four stamen
Stamen
The stamen is the pollen producing reproductive organ of a flower...
s, with the upper two reduced, whether they are sterile or not. Thornmint style
Gynoecium
Gynoecium is most commonly used as a collective term for all carpels in a flower. A carpel is the ovule and seed producing reproductive organ in flowering plants. Carpels are derived from ovule-bearing leaves which evolved to form a closed structure containing the ovules...
s are slender and their fruit is ovoid in shape with smooth exterior texture.