Pennyroyal

Cultivation

Exposure:	☼	sun
Features:	✓	flowers, fragrance, ground cover

Scientific Names
Lamiaceae >	Mentha >	pulegium >			L. >

Pennyroyal refers to two plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. For the American species, see American pennyroyal. The European pennyroyal, Mentha pulegium, (also called Squaw Mint, Mosquito Plant,^[1] and Pudding Grass^[2]), is a plant in the mint genus, within the family Lamiaceae. Crushed Pennyroyal leaves exhibit a very strong fragrance similar to spearmint. Pennyroyal is a traditional culinary herb, folk remedy, and abortifacient. The essential oil of pennyroyal is used in aromatherapy, and is also high in pulegone, a highly toxic volatile organic compound affecting liver and uterine function.

Read about Pennyroyal in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
Mentha pulegium. Linn. Pennyroyal. Prostrate, much branched: lvs. small, about ½in. or less long, round-oval, entire or slightly crenate, hairy: fls. in dense axillary whorls, small, bluish lilac; mouth of calyx closed by hairs; upper lobe of corolla notched. In wet places, Eu. and W. Asia, and intro. elsewhere. Var. gibraltarica, Hort., is a dwarf compact form with deep green foliage which is sometimes variegated, used in rock-gardens and also in geometrical designs.—M. Pulegium has a strong and agreeable odor; lvs. sometimes used for seasoning. It is sometimes grown in kitchen-gardens, preferring a moist rather stiff soil. Prop, by division. The American pennyroyal is Hedeoma pulegioides. The oil of the two is similar. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Read about Pennyroyal in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
Pennyroyal of Europe, Mentha Pulegium; of America, Hedeoma pulegioides. Bastard P., or blue curls, is Trichostema dichotomum. All are members of the mint family. The garden pennyroyal, Mentha Pulegium, is a European perennial, used for seasoning. It is one of the sweet herbs." It is easily grown, profiting by a winter protection of leaves or litter. Propagation is mostly by division. Beds should be renewed frequently.^CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

Cultivation

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division, cuttings, seed

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↑ Gunby, Phil. (1979). "Medical News: Plant Known for Centuries Still Causes Problems Today." Journal of the American Medical Association 241(21): 2246-2247.
↑ Keville, Kathi. (1994). Herbs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York, New York: Friedman/Fairfax Publishers. Pp. 128.