Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Botany picture #13: Minthostachys verticillata


With all the reposts of information on Minthostachys it seems fitting to show a representative of this genus of aromatic plants: Minthostachys verticillata (Lamiaceae) from Argentina, where it is commonly known as peperina. It is harvested for oil extraction and consumption as tea, especially around Cordoba. Overuse of wild populations is a major issue, and Argentinian colleagues are attempting to address the issue by working to educate the collectors about sustainable management practices and by domesticating the species.

2 comments:

  1. can we find peperina in Australia ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have not seen it anywhere yet and would not be too optimistic. If anything I would hold out hope for specialty food stores with a connection to Latin America, especially in a cosmopolitan place like Melbourne.

      Delete