European pennyroyal
Mentha pulegium L.
Mentha pulegium, known as European pennyroyal, is a flowering plant in the Lamiaceae family. It is native to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The plant is characterized by its strong spearmint-like fragrance when crushed. It has historical use as a folk remedy and culinary herb, though it is known to be toxic to the liver and has been linked to fatalities.
Description
Mentha pulegium is distributed across regions including British Columbia, the Açores, Madeira, Portugal Continental, and various islands in the Atlantic. It was first published in 1753. The plant has been used traditionally as an emmenagogue and abortifacient. It is related to Hedeoma pulegioides, an American species with similar chemical properties, despite belonging to different genera.
Other common names
Pennyroyalpenny-royalEuropean pennyroyal
Distribution
British Columbia · Açores · Madeira · Portugal Continental · BR · Corvo Island · Faial Island · Flores Island · Graciosa Island · Pico Island · Santa Maria Island · São Jorge Island · São Miguel Island · Terceira Island · Madeira Island · Porto Santo island · Palaearctic · CL · IE · French Southern and Antarctic Lands Terres australes et antarctiques françaises (TAAF) · DK · UA · Flanders · AR · Lithuania · Ukraine · SE · IR · ES · AU
Synonyms
Melissa pulegiumMentha albarracinensisMentha aromaticaMentha aucheriMentha subtomentella var. ceplaloniaeMentha daghestanicaMentha exiguaMentha gibraltaricaMentha hirtifloraMentha subtomentella var. humillimaMentha subtomentella var. microphyllaMentha montanaMentha numidicaMentha pulegioidesMentha pulegium f. albaMentha pulegium f. albifloraMentha pulegium f. cephaloniaMentha pulegium subsp. cephaloniaMentha pulegium subsp. erinoidesMentha pulegium var. hyperianthaMentha subtomentellaMentha tomentellaMentha tomentosaMentha tomentosa var. villosaMicromeria dalmaticaMicromeria fenzliiMinthe pulegiaPulegium aromaticumPulegium daghestanicumPulegium erectum
