Indian catnip

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Indian catnip
• North Indian Catmint

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Nepeta hindostana var. woodrowii
• Thymus nepetoides
• Nepeta ruderalis var. woodrowii
• Glechoma hindostana
• Nepeta clinopodioides
• Glechoma calaminthodes
• Nepeta calaminthoides

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized into the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, it is identified under the genus Nepeta as the species Nepeta hindostana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several key regions of Asia. In Western Asia, it can be specifically found growing within Afghanistan. Its presence is also highly significant throughout the Indian Subcontinent, where it inhabits India and Nepal. Additionally, the species is documented in Pakistan. Finally, its geographical range extends into the mountainous terrain of the West Himalaya.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Nepeta hindostana is characterized by a variable lifecycle, capable of functioning as an annual, biennial, or perennial depending on environmental conditions. In terms of its structural growth strategy, the plant exhibits a dual classification of life forms, manifesting as both a hemicryptophyte, where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, and as a therophyte, which allows it to complete its life cycle through a specialized seed stage.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Nepeta hindostana is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, maintaining a primarily terrestrial habit within its ecological niche. The plant is a self-supporting species rather than a climber, exhibiting a structural development that does not require external support for its vertical growth. Although its habitat can vary, it is classified within a range of moisture preferences spanning aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial environments.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Activities

Nepeta hindostana has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cardioprotective.

Cardioprotective

1. Steroids

Conditions

Nepeta hindostana has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, dyslipidemia.

Atherosclerosis

1. Steroids

Cardiovascular diseases

1. Steroids

Dyslipidemia

1. Steroids

Preparations

Nepeta hindostana has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include methanolic extract.

Methanolic extract

1. Steroids