About Mentha cunninghamii (Benth.) Benth.
Mentha cunninghamii (Benth.) Benth. has a characteristic mint odor shared with other species in the Mentha genus, but has a very distinct appearance compared to most other mints. Some researchers have suggested it may actually be more closely related to species in the Micromeria genus. This species is a slender, wiry, prostrate perennial plant that grows from a creeping rhizome. It is heavily branched, often forming a matted growth habit, with numerous stems that grow from the rhizome. The stems are diffusely branched, covered in fine soft hairs, and reach between 2 and 12 inches in length. Its leaves have very short petioles or are nearly sessile, measure 1/6 to 1/2 inches long, are broadly ovate or almost round, have a blunt tip, have smooth edges or a faint notch on each side, and are covered in visible gland dots. Its flowers are small, white, and grow from leaf axils. Most flowers grow singly in each axil, though sometimes 2 to 3 flowers develop per axil. Its peduncles are slender and vary in length. The calyx is about 1/8 inches long, shaped like a tubular bell, densely covered in hairs, with the inner surfaces of the calyx teeth covered in long soft hairs. The corolla lobes are nearly equal in size, flat, and spreading, with the uppermost lobe having a short split at the tip. The stamens reach the same height as the corolla, or extend slightly beyond it. Mentha cunninghamii is endemic to New Zealand, where it is found on four islands: the North Island, South Island, Chatham Island, and Stewart Island. It grows sparsely in grassy fields and general open land, and occupies habitats from coastal to alpine elevations, ranging from sea level up to 4,500 feet, or 1,400 metres. Different sources give differing start dates for its flowering season in the Southern Hemisphere, listing it as beginning in either September or November, and ending in April. As of 2018, the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) managed by the New Zealand Department of Conservation assesses the conservation status of Mentha cunninghamii as "At Risk: Declining." Under this classification system, Declining status means the species still has large existing populations, but is currently undergoing population declines that could eventually lead to it being reclassified as Threatened. New Zealand Māori people have used Mentha cunninghamii as a diaphoretic, a substance intended to induce sweating. Its leaves are also used for their scent, including as an ingredient in cooking. This species is documented as being easy to cultivate in many gardens.
