Nepeta cataria (Catnip)

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Nepeta cataria L.

Catnip

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Lamiales	Aromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary
Family	Lamiaceae	Mint family
Genus	Nepeta	The ancient Latin name of the aromatic plant catnip
Species	cataria

About plant names...

Catnip is a North American native. Nepeta is a genus containing about 250 species, all of which are recreational drugs. If you're a cat, that is. A substance called nepetalactone produces a pleasurable and harmless "high" which effects about 50-80% of all cats (lions and tigers too!). Catnip is a member of the mint family, and is sometimes called catmint.

Identification: Plants are up to 3' (1 m) high, with square-shaped stems. Leaves are triangular to oval in shape, up to 4" (10 cm) × 2" (6 cm). Leaf edges have rounded serrations. They are green and slightly hairy above, and grayish from fine hairs below. Flowers are whorled spikes ½-3½" (1.3-8.9 cm) long, directly attached to the stem, white-to-pink, spotted with purple. Individual flowers are about ¼" (7 mm) tall, with a top lip and three bottom lobes. The fruits are small reddish-brown egg-shaped nutlets.

Medical: Catnip contains a mild sedative that was used by early Europeans to treat convulsions, coughs, sleeplessness, and anxiety, in the form of a tea. It is also sometimes used as a cold and flu remedy.

Online References:

Illinois Wildflowers

Missouriplants.com

Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses

Wikipedia

Www.holoweb.com

Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

CalPhotos

SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network

The Jepson Manual