Mentha cervina
Mentha cervina L.
Mentha cervina, a perennial herb in the Lamiaceae family, is native to the western Mediterranean region. It occurs naturally from southwestern France to the Iberian Peninsula and extends to the Azores, Morocco, and Algeria. This species is associated with Mentha pulegium due to their shared high pulegone content, which contributes to their strong, distinctive aroma. The plant is part of the Mentha genus and was first described in 1753.
Description
Mentha cervina is a member of the Lamiaceae family and is commonly known as hart's pennyroyal. It is found in regions including Portugal Continental, Belgium, the Flemish and Walloon Regions, Algeria, the Azores, France, Great Britain, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. The species is recognized for its aromatic properties, attributed to the high pulegone content, a chemical compound that is also present in Mentha pulegium. The association between the two species is based on this shared characteristic. Mentha cervina was first described by Linnaeus in 1753 and is part of the Mentha genus, which includes a variety of aromatic mint species.
Distribution
Portugal Continental · Belgium · Flemish Region · Global · Walloon Region · Algeria · Azores · France · Great Britain · Italy · Morocco · Portugal · Spain
Synonyms
Mentha multifidaMentha punctataPreslia cervinaPreslia glabrifloraPreslia villifloraPulegium cervinumPreslia cervina subvar. glabrifloraPreslia cervina subvar. villiflora
