Lemon balm and mint are not the same plant; the difference between the two must be clearly distinguished
Lemon balm is a common indoor foliage plant, while mint is a plant that can be used as medicine. The two look similar, but there are still differences. Although the scientific name of lemon balm is wrinkled-leaf mint, it is not mint, and it differs from mint. The scientific name of lemon balm is lemon bee balm or wrinkled-leaf mint, with the aliases bee balm and bee flower. It belongs to the same genus Mentha as mint, but is a different species. So lemon balm and mint are not the same plant. Then what is the difference between lemon balm and mint? Below, the editor brings you the detailed content.
The difference between lemon balm and mint:
1. Different fragrance
Rub the leaves of lemon balm, and the aroma is clear, sweet and soft, slightly cool, and you will smell a lemon fragrance; rub the leaves of mint, and the coolness is pungent, and you will smell the cooling fragrance of mint.
2. Different leaves
The leaves of lemon balm are darker in color, with more obvious veins and clear wrinkles, and the leaf shape is relatively round; compared with thicker mint, the leaves of mint are lighter in color, with shallower veins, a more pointed shape, and are thinner.
3. Different components
Lemon balm and mint both belong to the genus Mentha. The main component of mint is menthol (mint camphor), while lemon balm does not contain menthol. Therefore, mint can be used as medicine, but lemon balm cannot be used as medicine.
4. Different flowers
The flowers of mint are generally axillary. There are about 30 species of mint, with even more varieties. The flowers of lemon balm mostly grow at the top.
Summary: Lemon balm is a common indoor foliage plant, while mint is a plant that can be used as medicine. The two look similar, but there are still differences. Although the scientific name of lemon balm is wrinkled-leaf mint, it is not mint, and it differs from mint.
Is lemon balm mint? The difference between lemon balm and mint / 6 differences from inside to outside
Lemon balm, a very common plant, is often grown in pots at home. It not only has a good ornamental effect, but can also absorb toxic gases such as formaldehyde, and is deeply loved by flower lovers. However, in daily life, people often mistake lemon balm for mint because they look too much alike. So is lemon balm mint? If not, what are the differences between lemon balm and mint? For this, the editor will explain it to you.
1. Is lemon balm mint? No
If you look from a little farther away, lemon balm and mint really do look very similar, and even people who have grown them can confuse them. So is lemon balm mint? Many people think it is. But what the editor wants to say is that they are not the same plant at all, and there are still many differences between lemon balm and mint. Specifically, there are six points. Let us continue reading below.
2. The difference between lemon balm and mint, there are six points of difference
1. Different species
According to research, we know that lemon balm and mint both belong to the genus Mentha, so lemon balm is also called wrinkled-leaf mint. But in further subdivision, lemon balm and mint are not the same species; lemon balm is only one kind belonging to the genus Mentha.
2. Different smell
The alias of lemon balm is lemon bee balm. Its leaves contain bee balm resin. After rubbing them, there is a slightly cool, clear and sweet aroma, like the fragrance of lemon; by contrast, after rubbing the leaves of mint, what rushes toward you is the cooling mint smell, just relatively cooler. So if you carefully smell the odor, the difference between lemon balm and mint is still very easy to distinguish.
3. Different leaves
When talking about the difference between lemon balm and mint, distinguishing the leaves is the simplest method, as follows:
The picture above is lemon balm. Its leaf shape is relatively round and thick, the surface wrinkles are relatively obvious, and the color is dark, with clearly outlined veins;
The picture above is mint. Its leaves are pointed and thin, lighter in color than lemon balm, and the vein outlines are relatively shallow. If you look carefully, they are still very easy to distinguish.
4. Different flowers
Although it is a herb, lemon balm can also bloom, and from the flowers, the difference between lemon balm and mint is also easy to find:
The above is a picture of lemon balm blooming. Its flower spikes grow at the top;
The above is a picture of mint blooming. Its flower spikes grow in the axils of the leaves and branches.
5. Different components
The above are external differences. The difference between lemon balm and mint is also easy to distinguish internally. Lemon balm does not contain menthol, so although it can be eaten, it cannot be eaten directly; the main component of mint is menthol, so it can be eaten directly.
6. Different effects
Lemon balm has many effects, mainly in absorbing harmful gases such as formaldehyde and carbon monoxide; the effects and functions of mint are mainly reflected in its medicinal value. It has the effects of dispersing wind-heat and clearing heat and relieving the exterior, and is often used in the treatment of conditions such as wind-heat common cold.
Is lemon balm mint? The difference between lemon balm and mint
[Common question] Is lemon balm mint? The difference between lemon balm and mint
[Expert answer]
The scientific name of lemon balm is lemon bee balm or wrinkled-leaf mint, with the aliases bee balm and bee flower. It belongs to the same genus Mentha as mint, but is a different species.Therefore, lemon balm belongs to one kind of mint, but is not the same plant as mint.
Picture: lemon balm
Picture: mint
The difference between lemon balm and mint
1. Different fragrance
Rub the leaves of lemon balm, and the aroma is clear, sweet and soft, slightly cool, and you will smell a lemon fragrance; rub the leaves of mint, and the coolness is pungent, and you will smell the cooling fragrance of mint.
2. Different leaves
The leaves of lemon balm are darker in color, with more obvious veins and clear wrinkles, and the leaf shape is relatively round; compared with thicker mint, the leaves of mint are lighter in color, with shallower veins, a more pointed shape, and are thinner.
3. Different components
Lemon balm and mint both belong to the genus Mentha. The main component of mint is menthol (mint camphor), while lemon balm does not contain menthol. Therefore, mint can be used as medicine, but lemon balm cannot be used as medicine.
4. Different flowers
The flowers of mint are generally axillary. There are about 30 species of mint, with even more varieties. The flowers of lemon balm mostly grow at the top.
[Editor's summary]
Lemon balm is a common indoor foliage plant, while mint is a plant that can be used as medicine. The two look similar, but there are still differences. Although the scientific name of lemon balm is wrinkled-leaf mint, it is not mint, and it differs from mint. The editor of First Agricultural Economics has analyzed the difference between lemon balm and mint for you from four aspects in this article, hoping it will be helpful to you.