Saussuria

''Nepeta'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae. The genus name is reportedly in reference to Nepete, an ancient Etruscan city.Missouri Botanical Garden: ''Nepeta'' × ''faassenii''
Accessed January 10, 2013 There are about 250 species.

The genus is native to Europe, Asia, and Africa, and has also naturalized in North America.

Some members of this group are known as catnip or catmint because of their effect on house cats – the nepetalactone contained in some ''Nepeta'' species binds to the olfactory receptors of cats, typically resulting in temporary euphoria.

Description

Most of the species are herbaceous perennial plants, but some are annuals. They have sturdy stems with opposite heart-shaped, green to gray-green leaves. ''Nepeta'' plants are usually aromatic in foliage and flowers.

The tubular flowers can be lavender, blue, white, pink, or lilac, and spotted with tiny lavender-purple dots. The flowers are located in verticillasters grouped on spikes; or the verticillasters are arranged in opposite cymes, racemes, or panicles – toward the tip of the stems.

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.

Selected species

* Some species formerly classified as ''Nepeta'' are now in the genera ''Dracocephalum'', '' Glechoma'', and ''Calamintha'' .

Species include:

*'' Nepeta adenophyta'' Hedge
*'' Nepeta agrestis'' Loisel.
*'' Nepeta alaghezi'' Pojark.
*'' Nepeta alatavica'' Lipsky
*'' Nepeta algeriensis'' Noë
*'' Nepeta amicorum'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta amoena'' Stapf
*'' Nepeta anamurensis'' Gemici & Leblebici
*'' Nepeta annua'' Pall.
*'' Nepeta apuleji'' Ucria
*'' Nepeta argolica'' Bory & Chaub.
*'' Nepeta assadii'' Jamzad
*'' Nepeta assurgens'' Hausskn. & Bornm.
*'' Nepeta astorensis'' Shinwari & Chaudhri
*'' Nepeta atlantica'' Ball
*'' Nepeta autraniana'' Bornm.
*'' Nepeta azurea'' R.Br. ex Benth.
*'' Nepeta badachschanica'' Kudrjasch.
*'' Nepeta bakhtiarica'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta ballotifolia'' Hochst. ex A.Rich.
*'' Nepeta balouchestanica'' Jamzad & Ingr.
*'' Nepeta barfakensis'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta baytopii'' Hedge & Lamond
*'' Nepeta bazoftica'' Jamzad
*'' Nepeta bellevii'' Prain
*'' Nepeta betonicifolia'' C.A.Mey.
*''Nepeta binaloudensis'' Jamzad
*'' Nepeta bodeana'' Bunge
*'' Nepeta × boissieri'' Willk.
*'' Nepeta bokhonica'' Jamzad
*'' Nepeta bombaiensis'' Dalzell
*'' Nepeta bornmuelleri'' Hausskn. ex Bornm.
*'' Nepeta botschantzevii'' Czern.
*'' Nepeta brachyantha'' Rech.f. & Edelb.
*'' Nepeta bracteata'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta brevifolia'' C.A.Mey.
*'' Nepeta bucharica'' Lipsky
*'' Nepeta caerulea'' Aiton
*'' Nepeta caesarea'' Boiss.
*'' Nepeta campestris'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta camphorata'' Boiss. & Heldr.
*'' Nepeta × campylantha'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta cataria'' L.
*'' Nepeta cephalotes'' Boiss.
*'' Nepeta chionophila'' Boiss. & Hausskn.
*'' Nepeta ciliaris'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta cilicica'' Boiss. ex Benth.
*''Nepeta clarkei'' Hook.f.
*'' Nepeta coerulescens'' Maxim.
*'' Nepeta concolor'' Boiss. & Heldr. ex Benth.
*'' Nepeta conferta'' Hedge & Lamond
*'' Nepeta congesta'' Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
*'' Nepeta connata'' Royle ex Benth.
*'' Nepeta consanguinea'' Pojark.
*'' Nepeta crinita'' Montbret & Aucher ex Benth.
*'' Nepeta crispa'' Willd.
*'' Nepeta curviflora'' Boiss.
*''Nepeta cyanea'' Steven
*'' Nepeta cyrenaica'' Quézel & Zaffran
*'' Nepeta czegemensis'' Pojark.
*'' Nepeta daenensis'' Boiss.
*'' Nepeta deflersiana'' Schweinf. ex Hedge
*'' Nepeta densiflora'' Kar. & Kir.
*'' Nepeta dentata'' C.Y.Wu & S.J.Hsuan
*'' Nepeta denudata'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta dirmencii'' Yild. & Dinç
*'' Nepeta discolor'' Royle ex Benth.
*'' Nepeta distans'' Royle
*'' Nepeta duthiei'' Prain & Mukerjee
*'' Nepeta elliptica'' Royle ex Benth.
*'' Nepeta elymaitica'' Bornm.
*'' Nepeta erecta'' (Royle ex Benth.) Benth.
*''Nepeta eremokosmos'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta eremophila'' Hausskn. & Bornm.
*'' Nepeta eriosphaera'' Rech.f. & Köie
*'' Nepeta eriostachya'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta ernesti-mayeri'' Diklic & V.Nikolic
*'' Nepeta everardii'' S.Moore
*''Nepeta × faassenii'' Bergmans ex Stearn
*'' Nepeta flavida'' Hub.-Mor.
*'' Nepeta floccosa'' Benth.
*''Nepeta foliosa'' Moris
*'' Nepeta fordii'' Hemsl.
*'' Nepeta formosa'' Kudrjasch.
*''Nepeta freitagii'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta glechomifolia'' (Dunn) Hedge
*'' Nepeta gloeocephala'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta glomerata'' Montbret & Aucher ex Benth.
*'' Nepeta glomerulosa'' Boiss.
*'' Nepeta glutinosa'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta gontscharovii'' Kudrjasch.
*''Nepeta govaniana'' (Wall. ex Benth.) Benth.
*'' Nepeta graciliflora'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta granatensis'' Boiss.
*'' Nepeta grandiflora'' M.Bieb.
*'' Nepeta grata'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta griffithii'' Hedge
*'' Nepeta heliotropifolia'' Lam.
*'' Nepeta hemsleyana'' Oliv. ex Prain
*'' Nepeta henanensis'' C.S.Zhu
*'' Nepeta hindostana'' (B.Heyne ex Roth) Haines
*'' Nepeta hispanica'' Boiss. & Reut.
*'' Nepeta hormozganica'' Jamzad
*'' Nepeta humilis'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta hymenodonta'' Boiss.
*'' Nepeta isaurica'' Boiss. & Heldr. ex Benth.
*'' Nepeta ispahanica'' Boiss.
*'' Nepeta italica'' L.
*'' Nepeta jakupicensis'' Micevski
*'' Nepeta jomdaensis'' H.W.Li
*'' Nepeta juncea'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta knorringiana'' Pojark.
*'' Nepeta koeieana'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta kokamirica'' Regel
*'' Nepeta kokanica'' Regel
*'' Nepeta komarovii'' E.A.Busch
*'' Nepeta kotschyi'' Boiss.
*'' Nepeta kurdica'' Hausskn. & Bornm.
*'' Nepeta kurramensis'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta ladanolens'' Lipsky
*'' Nepeta laevigata'' (D.Don) Hand.-Mazz.
*'' Nepeta lagopsis'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta lamiifolia'' Willd.
*'' Nepeta lamiopsis'' Benth. ex Hook.f.
*'' Nepeta lasiocephala'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta latifolia'' DC.
*'' Nepeta leucolaena'' Benth. ex Hook.f.
*'' Nepeta linearis'' Royle ex Benth.
*'' Nepeta lipskyi'' Kudrjasch.
*'' Nepeta longibracteata'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta longiflora'' Vent.
*'' Nepeta longituba'' Pojark.
*'' Nepeta ludlow-hewittii'' Blakelock
*'' Nepeta macrosiphon'' Boiss.
*''Nepeta mahanensis'' Jamzad & M.Simmonds
*'' Nepeta manchuriensis'' S.Moore
*'' Nepeta mariae'' Regel
*'' Nepeta maussarifii'' Lipsky
*'' Nepeta melissifolia'' Lam.
*'' Nepeta membranifolia'' C.Y.Wu
*'' Nepeta menthoides'' Boiss. & Buhse
*'' Nepeta meyeri'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta micrantha'' Bunge
*'' Nepeta minuticephala'' Jamzad
*'' Nepeta mirzayanii'' Rech.f. & Esfand.
*'' Nepeta mollis'' Benth.
*''Nepeta monocephala'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta monticola'' Kudr.
*'' Nepeta multibracteata'' Desf.
*'' Nepeta multicaulis'' Mukerjee
*'' Nepeta multifida'' L.
*'' Nepeta natanzensis'' Jamzad
*'' Nepeta nawarica'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta nepalensis'' Spreng.
*''Nepeta nepetella'' L.
*'' Nepeta nepetellae'' Forssk.
*'' Nepeta nepetoides'' (Batt. ex Pit.) Harley
*'' Nepeta nervosa'' Royle ex Benth.
*'' Nepeta nuda'' L.
*'' Nepeta obtusicrena'' Boiss. & Kotschy ex Hedge
*'' Nepeta odorifera'' Lipsky
*'' Nepeta olgae'' Regel
*''Nepeta orphanidea'' Boiss.
*'' Nepeta pabotii'' Mouterde
*'' Nepeta paktiana'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta pamirensis'' Franch.
*'' Nepeta parnassica'' Heldr. & Sart.
*'' Nepeta paucifolia'' Mukerjee
*'' Nepeta persica'' Boiss.
*'' Nepeta petraea'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta phyllochlamys'' P.H.Davis
*''Nepeta pilinux'' P.H.Davis
*''Nepeta podlechii'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta podostachys'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta pogonosperma'' Jamzad & Assadi
*''Nepeta polyodonta'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta praetervisa'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta prattii'' H.Lév.
*'' Nepeta prostrata'' Benth.
*''Nepeta pseudokokanica'' Pojark.
*'' Nepeta pubescens'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta pungens'' (Bunge) Benth.
*'' Nepeta racemosa'' Lam.
*'' Nepeta raphanorhiza'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta rechingeri'' Hedge
*'' Nepeta rivularis'' Bornm.
*''Nepeta roopiana'' Bordz.
*'' Nepeta rtanjensis'' Diklic & Milojevic
*'' Nepeta rubella'' A.L.Budantzev
*'' Nepeta rugosa'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta saccharata'' Bunge
*'' Nepeta santoana'' Popov
*'' Nepeta saturejoides'' Boiss.
*''Nepeta schiraziana'' Boiss.
*'' Nepeta schmidii'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta schugnanica'' Lipsky
*'' Nepeta scordotis'' L.
*'' Nepeta septemcrenata'' Ehrenb. ex Benth.
*'' Nepeta sessilis'' C.Y.Wu & S.J.Hsuan
*'' Nepeta shahmirzadensis'' Assadi & Jamzad
*'' Nepeta sheilae'' Hedge & R.A.King
*'' Nepeta sibirica'' L.
*'' Nepeta sorgerae'' Hedge & Lamond
*'' Nepeta sosnovskyi'' Askerova
*''Nepeta souliei'' H.Lév.
*'' Nepeta spathulifera'' Benth.
*''Nepeta sphaciotica'' P.H.Davis
*'' Nepeta spruneri'' Boiss.
*'' Nepeta stachyoides'' Coss. ex Batt.
*'' Nepeta staintonii'' Hedge
*'' Nepeta stenantha'' Kotschy & Boiss.
*'' Nepeta stewartiana'' Diels
*'' Nepeta straussii'' Hausskn. & Bornm.
*'' Nepeta stricta'' (Banks & Sol.) Hedge & Lamond
*'' Nepeta suavis'' Stapf
*'' Nepeta subcaespitosa'' Jehan
*'' Nepeta subhastata'' Regel
*'' Nepeta subincisa'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta subintegra'' Maxim.
*'' Nepeta subsessilis'' Maxim.
*'' Nepeta sudanica'' F.W.Andrews
*'' Nepeta sulfuriflora'' P.H.Davis
*'' Nepeta sulphurea'' C. Koch
*'' Nepeta sungpanensis'' C.Y.Wu
*'' Nepeta supina'' Steven
*'' Nepeta taxkorganica'' Y.F.Chang
*''Nepeta tenuiflora'' Diels
*'' Nepeta tenuifolia'' Benth.
*'' Nepeta teucriifolia'' Willd.
*'' Nepeta teydea'' Webb & Berthel.
*'' Nepeta tibestica'' Maire
*'' Nepeta × tmolea'' Boiss.
*'' Nepeta trachonitica'' Post
*'' Nepeta transiliensis'' Pojark.
*'' Nepeta trautvetteri'' Boiss. & Buhse
*'' Nepeta trichocalyx'' Greuter & Burdet
*'' Nepeta tuberosa'' L.
*'' Nepeta tytthantha'' Pojark.
*'' Nepeta uberrima'' Rech.f.
*'' Nepeta ucranica'' L.
*'' Nepeta veitchii'' Duthie
*'' Nepeta velutina'' Pojark.
*'' Nepeta viscida'' Boiss.
*'' Nepeta vivianii'' (Coss.) Bég. & Vacc.
*'' Nepeta wettsteinii'' Heinr.Braun
*'' Nepeta wilsonii'' Duthie
*'' Nepeta woodiana'' Hedge
*'' Nepeta yanthina'' Franch.
*'' Nepeta yesoensis'' (Franch. & Sav.) B.D.Jacks.
*'' Nepeta zandaensis'' H.W.Li
*'' Nepeta zangezura'' Grossh.

Gallery

Nepeta curviflora 1.jpg, Flower spikes of '' Nepeta curviflora''
Nepeta govaniana.jpg, ''Nepeta govaniana''
Nepeta grandiflora-IMG 0604.jpg, '' Nepeta grandiflora''
Nepeta subsessilis 1.jpg, '' Nepeta subsessilis''

Uses

Cultivation

Some ''Nepeta'' species are cultivated as ornamental plants. They can be drought tolerant – water conserving, often deer repellent, with long bloom periods from late spring to autumn. Some species also have repellent properties to insect pests, including aphids and squash bugs, when planted in a garden.

''Nepeta'' species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species including '' Coleophora albitarsella'', and as nectar sources for pollinators, such as honey bees and hummingbirds.

;Selected ornamental species
* '' Nepeta cataria'' (catnip, catswort) – the "true catnip", cultivated as an ornamental plant, has become an invasive species in some habitats.
* '' Nepeta grandiflora'' (giant catmint, Caucasus catmint) – lusher than true catnip and has dark green leaves and dark blue flowers.
* ''Nepeta'' × ''faassenii'' (garden catmint) – a hybrid of garden source with gray-green foliage and lavender flowers. It is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. The cultivar 'Walker's Low' was named Perennial of the Year for 2007 by the Perennial Plant Association.
* '' Nepeta racemosa'' (raceme catnip) – commonly used in landscaping. It is hardy, rated for USDA hardiness zone 5b.

References

Further reading

*
*

External links

GRIN Species Records of ''Nepeta''

Flora of Nepal: ''Nepeta'








– ''reported at the 2001 American Chemical Society meeting''.

{{Authority control

Lamiaceae genera
Perennial plants
Cat attractants
Drought-tolerant plants
Herbs
Medicinal plants
Garden plants of Africa
Garden plants of Asia
Garden plants of Europe
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus