Catnip
Nepeta cataria, commonly known as catnip, catswort, catwort, and catmint, is a species of the genus Nepeta in the family Lamiaceae, native to southern and eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of China. It is widely naturalized in northern Europe, New Zealand, and North America. The common name catmint can also refer to the genus as a whole.
| Catnip | |
|---|---|
| Catnip flowers | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Nepeta |
| Species: | N. cataria |
| Binomial name | |
| Nepeta cataria | |
The names catnip and catmint are derived from the intense attraction about two-thirds of cats have toward it (alternatives exist, such as valerian root and leaves). Catnip is also an ingredient in some herbal teas (or tisanes), and is valued for its sedative and relaxant properties.
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