catnip

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Cat Mint
• Cat-Mint
• Wild Catmint

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cataria vulgaris
• Glechoma macrura
• Nepeta tomentosa
• Nepeta macrura
• Calamintha albiflora
• Glechoma cataria
• Nepeta cataria f. laurentii
• Nepeta ceretana
• Nepeta citriodora
• Nepeta laurentii
• Nepeta minor
• Nepeta bodinieri
• Nepeta cataria var. citriodora

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Lamiales, falling into the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Nepeta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical presence across several regions of Northern Europe. Within this part of the continent, it can be found growing in Denmark. Its distribution also extends into the Scandinavian territories of Norway and Sweden. Furthermore, the species is documented to inhabit the landscapes of Finland. Finally, its range reaches the islands of Great Britain.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Nepeta cataria is characterized by its ability to inhabit diverse environments, primarily thriving within lowland habitats. It exhibits a broad vertical distribution across various landscapes, with an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum altitude of 2700 m AMSL. This wide altitudinal tolerance allows the species to colonize a variety of ecological niches, ranging from coastal lowlands to significant montane elevations.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Nepeta cataria is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, though its growth cycle can exhibit variable patterns depending on environmental conditions. As a hemicryptophyte, it survives the unfavorable seasons by protecting its perennual buds at the soil surface, typically beneath a layer of leaf litter or soil. Throughout its development, the plant maintains an evergreen nature, retaining its foliage to support continuous physiological processes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Nepeta cataria is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and specifically a forb. It is a terrestrial plant that functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies. As a self-supporting species, it does not exhibit climbing behavior such as a vine or liana. The plant typically reaches a height ranging from a minimum of 0.4 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.567 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.567 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Nepeta cataria is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the digestion of prey. The plant exhibits specific morphological adaptations in its foliage, maintaining a mean leaf width of 3.5 cm (with both minimum and maximum measurements recorded at 3.5 cm) and a mean leaf size of 3.905 cm². The leaves reach a maximum length of 5 cm, contributing to an average Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 309 cm²/g, a metric that reflects the plant's investment in leaf tissue density relative to its surface area for light interception and gas exchange.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf size mean:

3.905 cm²

Leaf width mean:

3.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

309 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Nepeta cataria is primarily driven by sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically begins in June and continues through September, though the timing can be variable. Pollination is a biotic process specifically characterized by an insect pollination syndrome, with bees playing a significant role in the transfer of pollen. Once fertilization occurs, the plant produces dry fruits containing seeds. These seeds are characterized by a consistent volume of 0.48 mm³ and a mean mass of 0.000565 g, with mass values ranging from a minimum of 0.0005 g to a maximum of 0.00058 g. Self-fertilization is absent in this species, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. Following maturation, the seeds utilize an unspecialized dispersal syndrome to spread within the environment.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

dry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00058 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000565 g

Seed mass min:

5e-04 g

Seed volume max:

0.48 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Nepeta cataria has 77 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Nepetalactone, GERANIOL, Pulegone, nerol, (E)-beta-farnesene.

Nepetalactone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports
3. Journal of plant physiology
4. Frontiers in plant science
5. Chemistry & biodiversity

GERANIOL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy research

Pulegone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science

nerol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmacognosy research

(E)-beta-farnesene

1. Dr. Duke

3-hexenyl benzoate

1. Dr. Duke

5,9-Dehydronepetalactone

1. Dr. Duke

5-Epideoxyloganic acid

1. Dr. Duke

7-Deoxyloganic acid

1. Dr. Duke

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Nepeta cataria has 526 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Anxiolytic, Insect-Repellent.

Antimicrobial

1. Polish journal of microbiology
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer edition

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Polish journal of microbiology

Anxiolytic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii

Insect-Repellent

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in plant science

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ABeta-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AChE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Nepeta cataria has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Dengue virus, Gram-positive bacteria, Pseudomonas syringae, anxiety, asthma.

Dengue virus

1. Scientific reports

Gram-positive bacteria

1. Scientific reports

Pseudomonas syringae

1. Frontiers in plant science

Anxiety

1. Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii

Asthma

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Penile erection

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Sexual behavior

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Wound-healing

1. Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer edition

Preparations

Nepeta cataria has 4 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oil, N. cataria essential oil, essential oils, methanol.

Essential oil

1. Polish journal of microbiology
2. Scientific reports

N. cataria essential oil

1. Scientific reports

Essential oils

1. Scientific reports

Methanol

1. Frontiers in plant science