108 MEDICINAL HERBS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 



from a medicinal standpoint, at the present day its sole 

 use is to furnish an ingredient in the preparation of 

 menthoL 



Pennyroyal {Mentha Pulegium), — This is a valuable 



member of the Mint tribe, and can be identified by- 



1. Its stem, which is prostrate. 



2. Its egg-shaped, nearly smooth 



leaves. 



3. Its purple flowers in distant 



whorls. 



4. Its smallness compared with 



others (it only reaches about 

 6 inches from the ground). 



We often find Pennyroyal in cot- 

 tage gardens, an infusion of the 

 leaves being a favourite remedy 

 against colds. It was more valued 

 officially in former days than it is 

 now, though its volatile oil (the 

 olewm pulegii of the pharmacists) 

 is still largely used. The herb is 

 in steady demand, and is largely 

 cultivated in this country. A large 

 amount of the plant was also im- 

 a, Corolla. &, Pistil. portcd bcf Ore the War. The vola- 

 tile oil supplies a stimulant and 

 an emmenatjoOTe. 



There are altogether eight Mints in this country, and 

 the following classification may help to distinguish the 

 four noted above from the remainino- four. 



Fig. 68.— Pennyroyal {Mentha 



Pulegium) 



