24 



AMEKlLA^S; MF-DTCTXAL LEAVES AND HERBS. 



CATNIP. 



Nepeta ratarin L. 



Other common names. — Cataria, catmint, calwort, calrup, field mint. 

 ffabitat and range. — Catnip, a coinmnn weed naturalized from Europe, occurs in 



rather dry soil in waste 

 places and cultivated land 

 from Canada to Minnesota 

 and south to Virginia and 

 Arkansas. 



Description. — The fine 

 white hairs on the stems 

 of this plant give it a 

 somewhat whitish appear- 

 ance. Catnip reaches 

 about 2 to 3 feet in height, 

 with erect, square, and 

 branched stems. It is a 

 perennial belonging to the 

 mint famih- (Menthacese). 

 The opposite leaves are 

 heart shaped or oblong, 

 with a pointed apex, the 

 upper surface green, the 

 lower grayish green with 

 fine white hairs, the mar- 

 gins finely scalloped and 

 I to 2J inches in length. 



About June to Septem- 

 ber the many-flowered, 

 rather thick spikes are 

 produced at the ends of 

 the stem and branches. 

 The whitish flowers, dot- 

 ted with purple, are two 

 lipped, the upper lip 

 notched or two cleft, the 

 lower one with three lobes, 

 the middle lobe broadest 

 and sometimes two cleft. 

 (Fig. 16). 



Collection, prices, and uses. — The leaves and flowering tops, which have a strong 

 odor and a bitter taste, are collected when the plant is in flower and are carefully 

 dried. The coarser stems and branches should be rejected. Catnip was official in 

 the United States Pharmacopa^ia from 1840 to 1880. The price ranges from 3 to 5 cents 

 a pound. 



Catnip is used as a mild stimulant and tonic and as an emmenagogue. 

 quieting effect on the nervous system. 



IT.) 



Vu. ]i 



-CiUiiii) i.XcpcIa calnria), Icavps and flowor.- 



It also has a 



