Pennyroyal characteristics

What is a pennyroyal plant?

Characteristics of pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)

Photo of pennyroyal

Photo of pennyroyal

Common English name: Pennyroyal, pudding grass, squaw mint, mosquito plant.

Scientific name: Mentha pulegium L. The species name “pulegium” comes from the Latin “pulex”, which means flea, because in ancient times this plant was used to flush out these parasites.

*See: Pennyroyal in other languages

Family: Labiatae

Habitat: In humid areas, near ponds, rivers and meadows.

Description of pennyroyal

Perennial plant of the Labiatae family up to 50 cm.

Creeping stems where flower stalks are born from.

Oval leaves up to 2 cm in length with shorter stems that flower stalks; Oval, covered with a dense gray pubescence and with blunt teeth.

Flowers up to 6 mm, lilac or pink, rarely white, gathered in whorls rounded and grouped. Calyx irregular teeth, pubescent like the flower stalks.

Plant with pungent odor.

Collection and preservation of pennyroyal

The young leaves can be harvested throughout the whole year.

The flowers are harvested during the summer or in the fall. After drying in the shadow, they should be stored in a clean, dry airtight container.

Composition of pennyroyal

Pennyroyal components are:

  • Essential oil (1-2%): The main components are pulegone and isopulegone (70-80%), menthone, iso-menthone, limonene, piperitenone, carvacrol.
  • Terpenes: pinene, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, beta-phellandrene, cadinene, camphene, limonene, menthol, linalool, nerol, ocimene, sabinene, terpineol, thymol, thujone (Plant)
  • Salicylic acid, rosmarinic acic(Plant)
  • Fatty acids: butyric, formic, lauric, palmitic
  • Tannins (plant)
  • Flavonoids: hesperidin, diosmin (Plant)
  • Fiber (Plant)
  • Minerals: phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, zinc, aluminum, calcium, cobalt (Plant)

punto rojo More information on pennyroyal

This article was endorsed by Julián Masats - Technical agricultural engineer specialized in horticulture and gardening.
Editorial
Written by Editorial Botanical-online team in charge of content writing

17 May, 2022

Other interesting articles

This material is for informational purposes only. In case of doubt, consult the doctor.
"Botanical-online" is not responsible for damages caused by self-medication.