Flora of New Zealand Series

catnip

Densely hairy perennial, with stems erect or nearly so, to c. 1 m tall. Petioles to 3 cm long. Lamina 4-6 × 3-4 cm, ovate or triangular-ovate, often grey-tomentose, deeply serrate or crenate-serrate; base cordate or subcordate; apex mucronate; upper cauline lvs smaller. Infl. terminal, dense, spike-like, with lower verticels distant. Calyx 6-7 mm long, tomentose outside on nerves; teeth linear-subulate, often purplish tipped. Corolla usually 7-10 mm long to apex of upper lip, white with purplish dots on lower lip; tube somewhat curved, not exceeding calyx, tomentose outside; limb tomentose outside; upper lip with 2 rounded lobes. Anthers usually purplish, sometimes green. Style white or pale mauve. Nutlets c. 1.5 mm long, broad-oblong, dark brown, faintly ridged.

N.: widespread; S.: widespread but only locally common, particularly in and around the Marlborough Sounds and Nelson.

Eurasia 1870

Rather shady places in and around forest remnants, scrub and plantations.

FL Dec-May.

Catnip is a strongly scented herb sometimes cultivated by herb growers. It is well-known for its peculiar attractiveness to cats; this property is also present in N. mussini.