146 CATMINT. 



what pedunculate wliorls. The calyx is monopliyllous, tubular, 

 many-ribbed, five-tootbed. The corolla is large, white, or pur- 

 plish, witli deep rose-coloured spots; the tube long, cylin- 

 drical ; the upper lip emarginate, the lower lip with three 

 lobes, of which the central one is large, rounded, concave, and 

 notched, and the lateral ones reflexed. The stamens are didy- 

 namous, approximating, shorter than the upper lip of the 

 corolla, with reddish anthers. The germen is superior, four- 

 lobed, supporting a filiform curved style, terminated by a bifid 

 stigma. Plate 11, fig. 2, (a) entire flower magnified; {b) corolla, 

 stamens, and style, viewed in front; (c) the pistil ; (d) the calyx, 

 opened to shew the achenia. 



This plant is found on hedge-banks and by road-sides, espe- 

 cially in a gravelly or chalky soil, in many parts of England. It 

 is rare in Scotland, but has been discovered near Craig Nethan 

 Castle, Glasgow, and between Culross and Kincardine : also at 

 Rathfarnan and by the Shannon, opposite Limerick, Ireland. 



The generic name has been derived either from Nejn, a town 

 in Italy, or from Nepa, a scorpion, for whose bite the plant was 

 a reputed antidote. It is called Catmint, because cats are 

 extremely fond of it, especially when it is withered, when they 

 will roll themselves on it, tear it in pieces, and chew it as long 

 as a leaf remains. Ray mentions that he transplanted the com- 

 mon Catmint from the fields into his garden ; but the cats soon 

 destroyed it : those plants however which came up from seed 

 uniformly escaped, and thus he found the old proverb verified*. 



It is eaten by sheep, but refused by cows, horses, goats, and 

 swine. 



Qualities. — The Catmint has a bitter taste and a strong smell, 

 rather sweeter than that of mint and resembling pennyroyal. 

 The active principle is extracted both by water and rectified 

 spirit ; most completely by the latter. By distillation with water 

 it yields a yellowish essential oil, which diffuses a strong and 

 penetrating odour. Rectified spirit likewise elevates a portion 

 of the odour and aromatic quality, but the greater part is left 

 , behind in the extract, which proves more grateful than the 

 leaves in substance. 



* " If you set it 



The cats will eat it ; 



If you sow it 



The cats will not know it." 



