Narrowleaf Mountain Mint, Common Horsemint, Slender Mountain Mint, Virginia Thyme

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium

pik-NAN-thee-mum  ten-yoo-ih-FOH-lee-um

Synonym of Pycnanthemum tenuifolium (1) (Updated on 11-30-24 from Plants of the World Online): Pycnanthemum tenuifolium var. lawrencei F.Seym. (1970)

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium Schrad. is the accepted scientific name for the Narrowleaf Mountain Mint. It was named and described as such by Heinrich Adolph Schrader in Hortus Gottingenis in 1809.

The genus, Pycnanthemum Michx., was named and described as such by André Michaux in Flora Boreali-Americana in 1803.

As of 11-30-24 when this page was updated, Plants of the World Online lists 19 species in the genus Pycnanthemum. It is a member of the plant family Lamiaceae with 225 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

The above distribution map for Pycnanthemum tenuifolium is from Plants of the World Online. Areas in green are where the species is native. The map on the USDA Plants Database is about the same…

The map on iNaturalist shows where members have made observations. Anyone can join and it is a great website to confirm and share your observations. The maps on iNaturalist are continually updated as members post new observations. I post all my observations on iNaturalist.

THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING AND TO HELP WITH A POSITIVE ID.

I found this Pycnanthemum tenuifolium growing in the pasture in the back of the farm on June 5 in 2023. I hadn’t seen it before, so it was a great find. You never know what you will stumble upon. Common names include Narrowleaf Mountain Mint, Common Horsemint, Slender Mountain Mint, Virginia Thyme, and possibly others.

I am currently working on updates, so I’ll come back to this page later and write descriptions. There are several links at the bottom of the page for further reading and to help with a positive identification.

 

 

 

 

 

I didn’t do much wildflower hunting in 2024, so I don’t know if this species returned or not. The summer of 2023 was very hot and dry, so I would be surprised. How it even got here in the first place is a mystery…

I live on the family farm in Windsor, Missouri in Pettis County (Henry County is across the street, and Benton and Johnson aren’t far away). I have grown over 500 different plants and identified over 250 species of wildflowers (most have pages listed on the right side of the page). I am not an expert, botanist, or horticulturalist. I just like growing, photographing, and writing about my experience. I rely on several websites for ID and a few horticulturalists I contact if I cannot figure them out. Wildflowers can be variable from location to location, so that can be a bit confusing. If you see I have made an error, please let me know so I can correct what I have written.

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and they have provided much more information. Some sites may not be up-to-date but they are always a work in progress. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you especially if you notice something is a bit whacky.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF MISSOURI (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF NORTH AMERICA (GENUS/SPECIES)
WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
USDA PLANT GUIDE
iNATURALIST
MISSOURI PLANTS
MIDWEST WEEDS AND WILDFLOWERS
MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN
MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
WILDFLOWER SEARCH
ARKANSAS NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY
BACKYARD NATURE
DAVE’S GARDEN
GARDENIA
GO BOTANY
ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS
KANSAS WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES
LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER
MARYLAND BIODIVERSITY PROJECT
NATIVE PLANTS OF TEXAS
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
PHYTOIMAGES
PLANTS OF LOUISIANA
SEINet

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and even many thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and it can be hard to keep with as well. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is one of the most reliable and up-to-date plant databases and they make updates regularly. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂