Catnip
Catnip | |
---|---|
Catnip flowers | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Lamiaceae |
Genus: | Nepeta |
Species: | N. cataria
|
Binomial name | |
Nepeta cataria |
Nepeta cataria, commonly known as catnip, catswort, catwort, and catmint, is a
The names catnip and catmint are derived from the intense attraction about two-thirds of
Description
Nepeta cataria is a short-lived
Taxonomy
Nepeta cataria was one of the many species described by Linnaeus in 1753 in his landmark work Species Plantarum.[11] He had previously described it in 1738 as Nepeta floribus interrupte spicatis pedunculatis (meaning 'Nepeta with flowers in a stalked, interrupted spike'), before the commencement of Linnaean taxonomy.[12]
Uses
The plant terpenoid nepetalactone is the main chemical constituent of the essential oil of Nepeta cataria. Nepetalactone can be extracted from catnip by steam distillation.[13]
Cultivation
Nepeta cataria is cultivated as an
The plant is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. It can be a repellent for certain insects, including aphids and squash bugs.[10] Catnip is best grown in full sunlight and grows as a loosely branching, low perennial.[14]
Varieties include Nepeta cataria var. citriodora (or N. cataria subsp. citriodora), or "lemon catnip",[15] named after its lemon-scented leaves.[16]
Biological control
The
As an insect repellent
Nepetalactone is a mosquito and
Effect of ingestion on humans
Catnip has a history of use in traditional medicine for a variety of ailments such as stomach cramps, indigestion, fevers, hives, and nervous conditions.[25] The plant has been consumed as a tisane, juice, tincture, infusion, or poultice, and has also been smoked.[25] However, its medicinal use has fallen out of favor with the development of modern medicine.[25]
Effect on felines
Catnip contains the feline attractant
With domestic cats, N. cataria is used as a recreational substance for the enjoyment of pet cats, and catnip and catnip-laced products designed for use with domesticated cats are available to consumers. Common behaviors cats display when they sense the bruised leaves or stems of catnip are rubbing on the plant, rolling on the ground, pawing at it, licking it, and chewing it. Consuming much of the plant is followed by drooling, sleepiness, anxiety, leaping about, and
Cats detect nepetalactone through their olfactory epithelium, not through their vomeronasal organ.[36] At the olfactory epithelium, the nepetalactone binds to one or more olfactory receptors.
A 1962
A study published in January 2021 suggests that felines are specifically attracted to the
Felines not affected by catnip
Cats younger than six months might not exhibit behavioral change to catnip.[40] Up to a third of cats are genetically immune to catnip effects but may respond to and enjoy catnip alternatives such as valerian (Valeriana officinalis) root and leaves; silver vine or matatabi (Actinidia polygama), popular in Asia; and Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica) wood.[6][7]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Nepeta cataria". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 7 April 2008.
- ^ World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- ^ Flora of China Vol. 17 p. 107 荆芥属 jing jie shu Nepeta Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 570. 1753.
- ^ Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Nepeta includes photos plus range maps for Europe and North America
- ^ Wilson, Julia. "Catnip (Nepeta cataria) – Everything You Need to Know About Catnip!". Cat-World.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
- ^ PMID 28302120.
- ^ a b c "Catnip (Nepeta cataria) – Everything You Need to Know About Catnip!". Cat-World.com.au. Cat World. 2014. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- PMID 17423611.
- ^ "UW-Stevens Point Freckmann Herbarium: Family Genera". Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
- ^ a b c d Missouri Botanical Garden: Nepeta cataria (Catmint) . Retrieved 1 October 2013
- ^ Linnaeus, Carl (1753). "Tomus II". Species Plantarum (in Latin). Vol. 2. Stockholm: Laurentii Salvii. p. 570.
- ISBN 9780643099456.
- ^ "DIY Kitty Crack: ultra-potent catnip extract". Instructables. 3 June 2007. Archived from the original on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
- ^ "Growing Catnip – Bonnie Plants". Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
- ISBN 9781604695496.
- ^ "Nepeta cataria var. citriodora | lemon catmint Herbaceous Perennial". RHS Gardening.
- PMID 35880027.
- ISSN 0002-161X– via EBSCO.
- ^ Kingsley, Danny (3 September 2001). "Catnip sends mozzies flying". ABC Science Online. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
- ).
- ^ Schultz, Gretchen; Peterson, Chris; Coats, Joel (2006). "Natural Insect Repellents: Activity against Mosquitoes and Cockroaches" (PDF). In Rimando, Agnes M.; Duke, Stephen O. (eds.). Natural Products for Pest Management. ACS Symposium Series. American Chemical Society.
- ^ "Termites Repelled by Catnip Oil". Southern Research Station, United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service. 26 March 2003.
- ^ "Catnip Repels Mosquitoes More Effectively Than DEE". ScienceDaily.com. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
- S2CID 13711455. Archived from the originalon 29 March 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
- ^ PMID 17423611.
- ^ Reader's Digest: Does Catnip "Work" On Big Cats Like Lions And Tigers? Accessed 22 May 2015
- ^ Poole, Chris (2 August 2010). Q: Do Tigers Like Catnip?. Big Cat Rescue. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2015 – via YouTube.
- ^ Poole, Chris (19 March 2013). Q: Do Tigers Like Catnip? Part 2. Big Cat Rescue. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2015 – via YouTube.
- ^ Durand, Marcella (4 March 2003). "Heavenly Catnip". CatsPlay.com. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
- ^ "Catnip Overdose or Something More Serious? - TheCatSpace". 27 February 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ISBN 0757305733.
- ^ Spadafori, Gina (2006). "Here, Boy!". Universal Press Syndicate. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ISBN 9781603421799. Retrieved 18 July 2013.
- ^ Turner, Ramona (29 May 2007). "How does catnip work its magic on cats?". Scientific American. Retrieved 14 February 2009.
- ^ Stromberg, Joseph (12 September 2014). "How catnip gets your cat high". Vox. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- PMID 3834921.
- ^ Todd 1962, "Inheritance of the catnip response in domestic cats"
- ^ Villani 2011, "Heritability and Characteristics of Catnip Response in Two Domestic Cat Populations"
- ^ Moutinho, Sofia (20 January 2021). "Why cats are crazy for catnip". Science. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Crazy for catnip". HumaneSociety.org. Humane Society of the United States. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
Further reading
- Khan, M. A.; S2CID 17494631.