|
Nepeta cataria L.
by
Katie Hess, Native Plants of Arizona 2004
Common names:
catmint, catnip, catnep, catwort, field balm (1, 2).
Family:
Lamiaceae
(1)
Synonymy:
Cataria
vulgaris (8)
Etymology:
Nepeta may be derived from the Italian town of Nepeti (7).
Identification
Growth form:
Herbaceous perennial, (2) up to 1
meter high (3)
Roots:
Perennial roots (9)
Stem:
Square stem (7)
Leaves:
Leaves are 2-3 inches ovate to cordate, opposite, and coarsely toothed.
They are covered with soft white fuzz. The tops are gray green, the bottoms
are normally white with hairs (7)
Inflorescence/flowers:
Flowes are bilabiate spiked flowers are white with purple or pink spots (7).
One of the Genus Nepeta’s distinguishing characteristics is a 15 ribbed
calyx.
Fruit:
Similar
species:
Ground Ivy (Nepeta glechoma).
Ecology
Life history:
Herbaceous perennial.
Native/introduced:
Introduced from Mediterranean region (3).
Photosynthetic pathway:
Phenology:
Flowers from July to November, seeds mature from September to October (8)
Distribution:
Asia and Europe widely spread by cultivation, prefers well drained soils
Also in western United States (8).
Uses
Not to be
used during pregnancy. (5) It can be used as fragrance. Leaves may be eaten
as salad and tea. Fresh leaves can be used as tenderizer, and seasoning.
Makes light yellow dye. Used in cat toys. Ornamental (7). Has many medicinal
uses: headaches, hysteria, fevers, and stomach ailments (9)
References
1. Integrated Taxonomic
Information System (ITIS) (http://www.itis.usda.gov).
2.
USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5. (http://plants.usda.gov).
National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70874-4490 USA.
3.Kearney, T.H., Pebbles
R.H. et al. 1964. Arizona Flora. University of California Press. Berkley.
4. Hyam R., Pankhurst
R. 1995. Plants and their names a concise dictionary. Oxford University
Press. Oxford.
5. Millspaugh, C.F.
1974. American Medicinal Plants. Dover Publications, Inc. New York.
6. Coon, N. 1974. The
Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rondale Press, Enmaus, PA.
7.
Arnoldsen, K., Voison, A., Johnson, J. 2004. The Herb Directory. Department
of Horticulture. Penn State.
(http://hortweb.cas.psu.edu/extension/vegcrops/herb_directory.html)
8.
Plants for a Future-species database 1997-2000. (ibiblio.org)
http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Nepeta+cataria
9.
Grieve, M. 1971. A Modern Herbal. Dover Publications. New York.
|