PENNYROYAL

PENNYROYAL

Hedeoma. pulegioides (L.)Pers. Pharmacopoeial name.-Hedeoma. Other common names.-American pennyroyal, mock pennyroyal, squaw mint, tick-weed, stinking balm, mosquito plant.

Habitat and range.-Pennyroyal is found in dry soil from Nova Scotia and Quebec to Dakota and southward.

Description.-This very strongly aromatic annual of the mint family (Menthaceae) is of rather insignificant appearance, being a low-growing plant, 'about 6 inches to a foot or so in height, with a slender, erect, much-branched and somewhat hairy stem.

The opposite leaves are small, scarcely exceeding three-fourths of an inch in length and becoming smaller toward the top of the plant. They are borne on short stems and are oblong ovate in shape, thin, blunt at the apex, narrowed at the base, and with margins sparingly toothed.

The branchlets are four angled and somewhat hairy, and the loose flower clusters, appearing from July to September in the axils of the leaves, consist of a few pale-bluish flowers with 2- lipped corolla, the erect upper one entire or slightly notched or two lobed, while the lower spreading lip is three cleft.

The leaves and flowering tops are official in the United States Pharmacopoeia, as is also the oil of pennyroyal distilled from them. They should be collected while in flower.

Pennyroyal has a strong mintlike odor and pungent taste and is used as an aromatic stimulant, carminative, and emmenagogue. The odor is very repulsive to insects, and pennyroyal is therefore much used for keeping away mosquitoes and other troublesome insects.

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PENNYROYAL

Ernest Liberty Sr., 74, High Point Drive, died at 5:57 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, 2008, at his home following a long illness. Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery-West with the Rev. Lloyd Tucker officiating. Visitation ...

Ernest Liberty Sr. - Kentucky New Era

Editor’s note: Margot Rochester, a Master Gardener and writer, died from pancreatic cancer Oct. 28. Her second book, “Down to Earth: Practical Thoughts for Passionate Gardeners,” published by Taylor Trade, will arrive in bookstores in January ...

In remembrance: Margot Rochester left a legacy of friends and flowers - The State

Weight Watchers will have a weigh-in at 11:30 a.m. and a meeting at noon at Hillcrest Baptist Church, 920 Skyline Drive. The Never Alone Again group of Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Elkton. Senior Medicare Patrol ...