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Mentha aquatica
Herbaceous rhizomatous perennial plant growing to 90 centimetres tall. The stems are square in cross section, green or purple, and variably hairy to almost hairless. The rhizomes are wide-spreading, fleshy, and bear fibrous roots. The leaves are ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 2 to 6 centimetres long and 1 to 4 centimetres broad, green (sometimes purplish), opposite, toothed, and vary from hairy to nearly hairless. The flowers of the watermint are tiny, densely crowded, purple, tubular, pinkish to lilac in colour; flowering is from mid to late summer. Water Mint is pollinated by insects, and also spreads by underground rhizomes, like other species of mint. All parts of the plant have a distinctly minty smell.
Water Mint occurs in the shallow margins and channels of streams. Spotted close to a small brook reaching the sea.
Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/500 sec.; f/13; ISO Speed Rating: 800. Exposure Bias: 0 EV. Focal Length: 300.0 mm. No flash
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