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'''''Nepeta''''' is a [[genus]] of about 250 [[species]] of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Lamiaceae]]. The members of this group are known as '''catnip''' or '''catmint''' because of their effect on [[cat]]s—nepeta pleasantly stimulates cats' [[Pheromone|pheromonic]] receptors, typically resulting in temporary [[Euphoria (emotion)|euphoria]]. According to traditional herb medicine, catnip tends to have a sedative effect on humans.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cat-world.com.au/Catnip.htm | title = All About Catnip | work = Cat-World | accessdate = March 14, 2009}}</ref> The genus is native to [[Europe]], [[Asia]], and [[Africa]]. It is now also common in [[North America]].<ref>{{cite book | title = Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia | volume = Vol. 5 | isbn = 0-8343-0051-6 | author = Leon L. Bram, editorial director, Robert S. Phillips, editor-in-chief, Norma H. Dickey, special projects editor-in-chief. | year = 1983 | publisher = Funk & Wagnalls | location = New York}}</ref> Most of the species are [[herbaceous]] [[perennial plant]]s, but some are [[annual plant|annual]]s. They have sturdy stems with opposite heart-shaped, green to grayish-green leaves. The [[flower]]s are white, blue, pink or lilac and occur in several clusters toward the tip of the stems. The flowers are tubular and spotted with tiny purple dots. {{Inc| Nepeta (Latin, perhaps from Nepete, an Etrurian city). Labiatae. This group includes catnip, ground ivy and some other hardy perennial herbs of the easiest culture. Perennial or annual herbs, tall and erect, or dwarf and more or less trailing: lvs. dentate or incised, the floral ones like the rest or reduced to bracts: whorls of fls. crowded in a dense spike, or in a loose cyme, rarely few-fld. and axillary; fls. blue or white, seldom yellow; calyx 15-nerved; corolla somewhat 2-lipped; upper lip straight or erect; lower lip spreading, 3-lobed, with the large center lobe concave; perfect stamens 4. in pairs, the 2 shorter ones in front; ovary 4-parted. The genus is placed near Lopanthus and Dracocephalum, and is characterized as follows: calyx tubular, the mouth straight or oblique, 5-toothed; stamens usually parallel, ascending; anther-cells divergent or divaricate.— About 150 species, mostly in the northern hemisphere outside the Old World tropics. Catnip is a familiar weed near dwellings and barns. Cats are fond of it, and catnip tea is a pungent memory with those who have survived the era of homely simples. The seeds of catnip are still offered. Ground ivy (N. hederacea) also grows wild in America, and a form of it with variegated foliage is cultivated for edging flower-beds or covering banks and stones. It is hardy in light well-drained soils, but sometimes winter-kills in moist soils. It is also used in vases and baskets. N. hederacea is a perennial creeping plant of easy culture in any loose, rich, fairly moist soil in either shade or full sunlight, but to be luxuriant in the open it should have a moist rootage. It is a very rapid grower, and is therefore often troublesome when planted with other low-growing plants. It is very useful as a ground-covering in shrubbery borders and shady places generally, particularly where it can hang over curbs or edgings or where a good sward cannot be secured. }} ==Cultivation== ===Propagation=== ===Pests and diseases=== ==Species== [[Image:Nepeta curviflora.jpg|thumb|''Nepeta curviflora'' flowers]] *''[[Nepeta cataria]]'' (Catnip, True Catnip, Catmint or Field Balm) is a 50–100 cm tall perennial [[herb]] resembling [[Mentha|mint]] in appearance, with greyish-green leaves; the [[flower]]s are white, finely spotted with purple. It has been introduced to many countries, including the [[United States]]. A [[lemon]]-scented [[cultivar]], ''N. cataria'' 'Citriodora', looks exactly like true catnip but has the scent of lemons and can be used like [[Lemon balm]]. *''[[Nepeta grandiflora]]'' (Giant Catmint or Caucasus Catmint) is lusher than true catnip and has dark green leaves and dark blue, almost purple flowers. *''[[Nepeta × faassenii]]'' (''N. racemosa'' × ''N. nepetella''; Faassen's Nepeta or Faassen's Catnip) is mostly grown as an [[ornamental plant]]. This [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] is far smaller than either of above and is almost a ground cover. It has greyish-green leaves and light purple flowers. *Some ''[[Dracocephalum]]'', ''[[Glechoma]]'' and ''[[Calamintha]]'' species were formerly classified in ''Nepeta''. *''Nepeta'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] ([[butterfly]] and [[moth]]) species including ''[[Coleophora|Coleophora albitarsella]]''. ;Selected species {| |- valign = top | *''Nepeta agrestis'' *''Nepeta annua'' *''Nepeta apuleii'' *''Nepeta beltranii'' *''Nepeta camphorata'' *''[[Nepeta cataria]]'' *''Nepeta ciliaris'' *''Nepeta coerulescens'' *''Nepeta curviflora'' *''Nepeta densiflora'' *''Nepeta dentata'' *''Nepeta dirphya'' *''Nepeta discolor'' *''Nepeta elliptica'' *''Nepeta everardi'' *''Nepeta floccosa'' *''Nepeta foliosa'' *''Nepeta fordii'' *''Nepeta glutinosa'' *''Nepeta govaniana'' *''Nepeta granatensis'' *''Nepeta grandiflora'' *''Nepeta heldreichii'' *''Nepeta hemsleyana'' *''Nepeta hindost'' *''Nepeta hispanica'' | *''Nepeta italica'' *''Nepeta jomdaensis'' *''Nepeta kokamirica'' *''Nepeta kokanica'' *''Nepeta laevigata'' *''Nepeta lamiopsis'' *''Nepeta latifolia'' *''Nepeta leucolaena'' *''Nepeta leucophylla'' *''Nepeta longibracteata'' *''Nepeta manchuriensis'' *''Nepeta melissifolia'' *''Nepeta membranifolia'' *''Nepeta micrantha'' *''Nepeta multibracteata'' *''Nepeta multifida'' *''Nepeta mussinii'' *''Nepeta nepalensis'' *''Nepeta nepetella'' *''Nepeta nervosa'' *''Nepeta nuda'' *''Nepeta parnassica'' *''Nepeta parviflora'' *''Nepeta phyllochlamys'' *''Nepeta prattii'' *''Nepeta pungens'' | *''Nepeta racemosa'' *''Nepeta raphanorhiza'' *''Nepeta scordotis'' *''Nepeta sessilis'' *''Nepeta sibirica'' *''Nepeta sibthorpii'' *''Nepeta souliei'' *''Nepeta spruneri'' *''Nepeta staintonii'' *''Nepeta stewartiana'' *''Nepeta sungpanensis'' *''Nepeta supina'' *''Nepeta taxkorganica'' *''Nepeta tenuiflora'' *''Nepeta tenuifolia'' *''Nepeta tuberosa'' *''Nepeta ucranica'' *''Nepeta veitchii'' *''Nepeta virgata'' *''Nepeta wilsonii'' *''Nepeta yanthina'' *''Nepeta zandaensis'' '''Natural hybrids''' *''Nepeta × faassenii'' |} ==Gallery== <gallery perrow=5> Image:Upload.png| photo 1 Image:Upload.png| photo 2 Image:Upload.png| photo 3 </gallery> ==References== *[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963 <!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 --> <!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 --> <!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 --> ==External links== *{{wplink}} {{stub}} __NOTOC__

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