PENNYROYAL 115 



bent back, with no flowers in the upper axils, smooth in England, in 

 S. Europe densely hairy, a protection against too rapid transpiration. 



The flowers are lilac, in the axils, round, distant, many in a whorl. 

 The regular calyx and the flower-stalks are downy each side, and the 

 teeth are fringed with hairs, the throat being defended by hairs, and 

 tubular. The nearly regular corolla is smooth inside. Complete 

 flowers are less numerous than small female flowers. 



Pennyroyal is 6 in. to i ft. high. It flowers late in August and 

 September. The plant is perennial, propagated by division. 



The flower is arranged on much the same plan as M. arvensis, and 

 it is likewise prostrate, and less visited by insects. The flowers are 

 proterandrous or proterogynous the anthers or stigma ripening first. 

 The corolla is smooth within and hairy on the exterior. The throat is 

 closed with hairs. The equal stamens are erect. 



The nutlets are free, and are dispersed when ripe around the parent 

 plant. It is a humus-loving plant, and requires a peaty soil. 



The name Pulegium, Pliny, is from pulex, a flea. Pliny says that 

 fleas are killed by the odour of the burnt blossoms. 



Pennyroyal is called Brotherwort, Churchwort, Pudding Grass, 

 Hill-wort, Lillie-riall, Lurkey Dish, Flea Mint, Organ, Organy, 

 Pudding Herb, Pulicall. It is called Pudding Herb because it was 

 used for flavouring black-puddings, and Pudding Grass because it was 

 used in hogs' puddings. Coles says: " Penniroyall chopped and put 

 into a bag-pudding giveth it a savoury relish ". 



Pennyroyal is aromatic and pungent in taste, and flavoured like 

 camphor. It contains a volatile essential oil, obtained by distilling it. 

 It was used as an expectorant and diaphoretic, for hysteria, whoop- 

 ing-cough, asthma, and is in use now. It was used as smelling salts 

 in cases of fainting by the Romans. The blossoms, according to Pliny, 

 killed fleas, as above. The use of it in puddings has not entirely 

 ceased. In Chaucer's day it formed an ingredient of the almighty 

 drug "save", and was employed to sharpen the eyes. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



247. Mentha Pulegium, L. Stem prostrate, leaves ovate, sub- 

 glabrous, crenate, flowers purple, in distant whorls, throat of corolla 

 closed with hairs, calyx tubular. 



