Nepeta

Catnip Nepeta cataria, copyright Stefan Lefnaer.

Belongs within: Lamiaceae.

Nepeta, the catmints and catnips, is a Palaearctic genus of aromatic herbs and subshrubs whose vernacular names refer to the euphoric effect of some species on cats.

Characters (from Flora of China): Subshrubs or perennial or annual herbs, usually aromatic, occasionally gynomonoecious or gynodioecious. Verticillasters in spikes or opposite cymes in racemes or panicles; floral leaves bractlike; bracts narrow, shorter than to longer than flowers. Calyx (13-)15(-17)-veined, tubular or campanulate, slightly curved or straight, throat oblique or regular; limb 2-lipped or not; teeth 5, equal or unequal, subulate or narrowly lanceolate to oblong-triangular, apex acuminate to spiny-acuminate. Corolla 2-lipped; tube basally narrow, ± abruptly dilated into an ample throat; upper lip ± flat or concave, 2-lobed or emarginate; lower lip large, 3-lobed, with middle lobe larger, concave or ± flat, margin undulate or dentate; lateral lobes small, straight or reflexed, ovate to semicircular. Stamens 4, nearly parallel, glabrous, ascending under upper lip of corolla, posterior 2 longer than anterior, included or exserted, fertile; stamens of pistillate flowers rudimentary, included; anther cells 2, ellipsoid, divaricate, apex not confluent. Style exserted, apex subequally 2-cleft. Nutlets oblong-ovoid, ellipsoid, ovoid, or obovoid, adaxially slightly ribbed, smooth or warty.

<==Nepeta Linnaeus 1753 [incl. Pitardia Batt. ex Pit. 1918] HPR03
    |--‘Pitardia’ caerulescens HPR03
    |--N. cataria C55b
    |--N. ciliaris O88
    |--N. coerulescens O88
    |--N. discolor O88
    |--N. glechoma C55b
    |--‘Pitardia’ gracilis HPR03
    |--N. grandiflora V09
    |--N. graveolens C55a
    |--N. laevigata O88
    |--N. lamiopsis O88
    |--N. multifida Linnaeus 1753 DSA04
    |--N. nepetella C55a
    |--N. nepetoides (Batt.) Harley in Harley, Paton & Ryding 2003 [=*Pitardia nepetoides Batt. ex Pit. 1918] HPR03
    `--N. staintonii O88

*Type species of generic name indicated

REFERENCES

[C55a] Candolle, A. de. 1855a. Géographie Botanique Raisonée: Ou exposition des faits principaux et des lois concernant la distribution géographique des plantes de l’époque actuelle vol. 1. Librairie de Victor Masson: Paris.

[C55b] Candolle, A. de. 1855b. Géographie Botanique Raisonée: Ou exposition des faits principaux et des lois concernant la distribution géographique des plantes de l’époque actuelle vol. 2. Librairie de Victor Masson: Paris.

[DSA04] Dayrat, B., C. Schander & K. A. Angielczyk. 2004. Suggestions for a new species nomenclature. Taxon 53 (2): 485–491.

[HPR03] Harley, R. M., A. J. Paton & O. Ryding. 2003. New synonymy and taxonomic changes in the Labiatae. Kew Bulletin 58: 485–489.

[O88] Ohba, H. 1988. The alpine flora of the Nepal Himalayas: an introductory note. In: Ohba, H., & S. B. Malla (eds) The Himalayan Plants vol. 1. The University Museum, University of Tokyo, Bulletin 31: 19-46.

[V09] Verdcourt, B. (ed.) 2009. Additions to the Wild Fauna and Flora of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. XXVI. Miscellaneous records. Kew Bulletin 64 (1): 183–194.