Nepeta or Catnip Plant Information

Nepeta species can be subshrubs, herbaceous perennials or annual herbs.Nepeta cataria (also known as catnip, catswort, or catmint) is a plant in the Lamiaceae family. The common names can also be used to refer to the Nepeta genus as a whole. They are usually aromatic. The flowers are located in verticillasters grouped on spikes; or the verticillasters are arranged in opposite cymes, racemes, or panicles. The calyx is tubular or campanulate, they are slightly curved or straight, and the limbs are often 2-lipped with five teeth. The lower lip is larger, with 3-lobes, and the middle lobe is the largest. The flowers have 4 hairless stamens that are nearly parallel, and they ascend under the upper lip of the corolla. Two stamen are longer and stamens of pistillate flowers are rudimentary. The style protrudes outside of the mouth of the flowers. The fruits are nutlets, which are oblong-ovoid, ellipsoid, ovoid, or obovoid in shape. The surfaces of the nutlets can be slightly ribbed, smooth or warty.^[3]

Description

Nepeta is a genus of about 250 species of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae. The members of this group are known as catnip or catmint because of their effect on cats—nepeta pleasantly stimulates cats' pheromone receptors, typically resulting in temporary euphoria.^{[citation needed]} Catmints are also used in herbal medicine for their mild sedative effect on humans.^[1]
The genus is native to Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is now also common in North America.^[2] Most of the species are herbaceous perennial plants, but some are annuals. They have sturdy stems with opposite heart-shaped, green to grayish-green leaves. The flowers 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.

Uses

Nepeta cataria is mostly used as a recreational substance for pet cats' enjoyment. Roughly 50% of cats will be affected by the plant,^[5] whether it is growing in the wild or harvested and dried. Approximately two hours after an exposure, the feline will be sensitive to another dose.^{[citation needed]} The common behaviors that are observed are: rubbing on the plant, rolling on the ground, drooling, sleepiness, anxiety, or consuming much of the plant. The plant terpenoid nepetalactone is the main chemical constituent of the essential oil of Nepeta cataria and acts as a feline attractant. This chemical enters the feline's nose, and produces effects on the cat.^[6]
Catnip has a history of human medicinal use for its soothing properties. It has also been known to have a slightly numbing effect. The plant has been consumed as a tea, juice, tincture, infusion or poultice, and has also been smoked.^[7] Nepetalactone is a mosquito and fly repellent.^[8][9]
Oil isolated from catnip by steam distillation is a repellent against insects, in particular mosquitoes, cockroaches and termites.^[10][11] Research suggests that in a test tube, distilled nepetalactone, the active ingredient in catnip, repels mosquitoes ten times more effectively than DEET, the active ingredient in most insect repellents,^[12][13] but that it is not as effective a repellent when used on the skin.^[14] Additionally, catnip and laced-catnip products designed for use with domesticated cats are available to consumers.

Effects on cats

About two thirds of cats are susceptible to catnip.^[16] The phenomenon is hereditary; for example, most Australian cats do not react to it.^[17] There is some disagreement about the susceptibility of lions and tigers to catnip.^[17]
Catnip has nepetalactone, a terpenoid. Nepetalactone can be extracted from catnip by steam distillation.^[18] Cats detect it through their olfactory epithelium, not through their vomeronasal organ.^[19] At the olfactory epithelium, the nepetalactone binds to one or more olfactory receptors where it probably mimics a cat pheromone, such as the hypothetical feline facial pheromone or the cat urine odorant MMB.^{[citation needed]}
Other plants that also have this effect on cats include valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and plants that contain actinidine or dihydroactinidiolide (Smith, 2005).

Catnip and catmints are mainly known for the behavioral effects they have on cats, not only domestic cats but big cats also (lions, tigers, leopards, etc.).^[15] When cats sense the bruised leaves or stems of catnip, they may roll over it, paw at it, chew it, lick it, leap about and purr, or heavily salivate. Some will growl, meow, scratch, or bite the hand holding it. Some cats will eat dried catnip. Often, eating too much can cause cats to be overtly aggressive, typically making them hiss.

From Wikipedia