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Lamiaceae Taxonomy Browser
Hedeoma pulegioides (L.) Pers.
EOL Text
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 4
Species With Barcodes: 1
Canada
Rounded National Status Rank: N4 - Apparently Secure
United States
Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure
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Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Hedeoma+pulegioides |
Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure
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Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Hedeoma+pulegioides |
Uses: MEDICINE/DRUG
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
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Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Hedeoma+pulegioides |
Hedeoma pulegioides (American pennyroyal, or American false pennyroyal[5]) is a species of Hedeoma native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia and southern Ontario west to Minnesota and South Dakota, and south to northern Georgia and Arkansas.[6]
It is a low-growing, strongly aromatic herbaceous annual plant from 15–30 cm tall, with a slender erect much-branched, somewhat hairy and square stem. The leaves are small, thin, and rather narrow, with a strong mintlike odor and pungent taste. The flowers are pale blue, monoecious, produced in small clusters; it flowers from mid to late summer.[7]
Other names are mock pennyroyal, squaw mint, tickweed, stinking balm, mosquito plant, American falsepennyroyal, and American false pennyroyal.[7][8]
The term "Pennyroyal" (or Pennyrile, from a dialectal pronunciation) is also used to describe a geographic province of western Kentucky, the Pennyroyal Plateau, where H. pulegioides grew in profusion sufficient to lend its name to the whole area.
Contents
Etymology[edit]
The name pulegioides is derived from the Latin pulegium and oides, and means “like pennyroyal,” in reference to European pennyroyal (Mentha pelugium).[9] The name pelugium was given to European pennyroyal by Pliny the Elder in the first century CE, for its use in repelling pulex or pulices (Latin for fleas) by spreading it on floors.[10]
Uses[edit]
In the early 20th century, it was used “in domestic medicine, in the form of a warm infusion, to promote perspiration and as an emmenagogue.”[11] Upon ingestion, one of its components, pulegone, metabolizes into hepatotoxic metabolites that depending on dosage can lead to organ failure, seizures, and death.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. 3 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Vol. 3: 136.
- ^ "Comprehensive Report Species – Hedeoma pulegioides". NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. 7.1. Arlington, Virginia: NatureServe Inc. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ^ "Plants profile for Hedeoma pulegioides (American false pennyroyal)". Plants Database. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved 6 January 2014.
- ^ "Synonyms of American False Pennyroyal (Hedeoma pulegioides)". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
- ^ USDA Plants Profile: Hedeoma pulegioides. Accessed June 19, 2007.
- ^ Germplasm Resources Information Network: Hedeoma pulegioides
- ^ a b Plants for a Future: Hedeoma pulegioides. Accessed June 19, 2007.
- ^ NEWCrop USDA Miscellaneous Publication No. 77: The Herb Hunters Guide: American Medicinal Plants of Commercial Importance. NEWCrop's online transcription of the 1930 USDA publication March 11, 1998. Accessed June 19, 2007.
- ^ Griffith, Chuck. Dictionary of Botanical Epithets. Accessed June 19, 2007.
- ^ a b Trumble, John T (2002). "Caveat emptor: safety considerations for natural products used in arthropod control" (PDF). American Entomologist 48 (1): 7–12.
- ^
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Pennyroyal". Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.
See also[edit]
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Rights holder/Author | Wikipedia |
Source | http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hedeoma_pulegioides&oldid=626962342 |
The most remarkable thing about this little plant is the strong scent of the foliage. Otherwise, it is rather easy to overlook. The only other species in this genus that occurs in Illinois, Hedeoma hispida (Rough Pennyroyal), has linear leaves and a milder scent; it also prefers sunnier habitats. American Pennyroyal superficially resembles Gratiola neglecta (Clammy Hedge Hyssop), but this latter species lacks any fragrance and its prefers soggy habitats (e.g., damp depressions in woodlands). Native pennyroyal species (Hedeoma spp.) have only 2 stamens per flower, while other similar species in the Mint family often have 4 stamens per flower. Because the flowers are so small, this requires a 10x hand lens to see clearly.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/am_pennyroyal.htm |
This native wildflower is a summer annual about 4-12" tall that is branched or unbranched. The stems are light green, terete, and pubescent. The opposite leaves are about 1" long and ¼" across; they are elliptic, oblong-lanceolate, or oblong-oblanceolate in shape. The margins of the leaves are smooth or they have a few blunt teeth toward their tips. The petioles of the leaves are short and slender. The foliage of American Pennyroyal has a strong medicinal-mint scent. Small axillary clusters of 1-4 flowers are produced from the base of each middle to upper leaf. Each flower is about ¼" long and half as much across, consisting of a 2-lipped tubular corolla, a tubular calyx with 5 teeth, 2 stamens, and a 4-celled ovary with a single style. The corolla is white or blue-violet with a contrasting color near its throat. Along the outer rim of the corolla, there is an upper lobe, 2 lateral lobes, and a lower lobe; they are short and rounded (although not always well-defined). The hairy ridged calyx has 3 upper triangular teeth and 2 lower teeth that are slender-lanceolate. At the base of each flower, there is a pair of a leafy bracts; these bracts are at least as long as the flower. The blooming period occurs from mid-summer to early fall and lasts 1-3 months; individual flowers are short-lived. At maturity, each fertile flower is replaced by 4 nutlets. This wildflower reproduces by reseeding itself. It occasionally forms colonies at favorable sites. Cultivation
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/am_pennyroyal.htm |
American Pennyroyal is occasional to locally common throughout Illinois, except the NW section of the state, where it is less common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include dry upland woodlands, rocky woodlands, areas along woodland trails, rocky glades, areas along railroads, roadsides, pastures, and fallow fields. This species prefers areas (whether sunny or shaded) that have been subjected to some disturbance.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/am_pennyroyal.htm |
Canada
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
United States
Origin: Native
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Hedeoma+pulegioides |
American Pennyroyal is occasional to locally common throughout Illinois, except the NW section of the state, where it is less common (see Distribution Map). Habitats include dry upland woodlands, rocky woodlands, areas along woodland trails, rocky glades, areas along railroads, roadsides, pastures, and fallow fields. This species prefers areas (whether sunny or shaded) that have been subjected to some disturbance.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants/am_pennyroyal.htm |