Musky mint facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Musky mint
Conservation status
Secure (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Hyptis
Species:	alata
Synonyms
Pycnanthemum alatum Raf. Clinopodium rugosum L. Hyptis radiata Willd., illegitimate superfluous name Mesosphaerum radiatum Kuntze Hyptis floridana Gand. Hyptis leiocephala Gand. Hyptis tracyi Gand. Hyptis latidens Urb. Hyptis rugosula Briq.

Hyptis alata, often called the musky mint or clustered bushmint, is a type of shrub that belongs to the Lamiaceae, also known as the mint family. The plants in the Hyptis group are generally known as bushmints.

What is Musky Mint?

Musky mint is a flowering plant that grows as a shrub. It's part of the large mint family, which includes many plants you might know, like peppermint and spearmint. The name "musky mint" comes from its scent, which can be a bit strong or "musky."

Where Does Musky Mint Grow?

This plant is native to several parts of the world. In the United States, you can find it growing naturally across the southeastern states. This includes places from Texas all the way to North Carolina.

Beyond the U.S., musky mint also grows in Cuba, Argentina, southern Brazil, and Paraguay. It likes to live in wet places. You can often find it in wetlands, open grassy areas called prairies, along the edges of ponds, and in wet flatwoods.

Types of Musky Mint

There are two main types, or subspecies, of Hyptis alata:

• Hyptis alata subsp. alata: This type is found in the United States and Cuba.
• Hyptis alata subsp. rugosula (Briq.) Harley: This type grows in South America.