Putnam Park Wildflowers


Flower ID: IMG_1060.JPG-07-08-2017
Flower name (scientific): Nepeta cataria Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) NEP-eh-tuh kat-AR-ee-ah
Flower name (common): Catnip
Family name (common): Mint
Family name (scientific): Lamiaceae
Scientific name origin:
     Genus: Ancient Latin name of the plant catnip. Possibly derived from the name of the city Nepi, Nepete in Roman times, in Italy. Used by Pliny the Elder, in Naturalis Historia.
    Specific epithet: Of or pertaining to cats.
Common name origin: The aromatic leaves of the plant have a strong attraction for a large percentage of cats.
Flower description:
     Size: 0.2 to 0.5 inches (0.5 to 1.3 cm)
     Petal count: 5
     Color: white with purple spotting
     Other: flower arrangement, Spike
Plant description: Erect, herbaceous plant. Stem is square.
     Size: 18 to 40 inches (46 to 102 cm)
     Stem hairy: Densely pubescent with short white hairs.
     Other:
Leaf description: attachment is opposite, type is simple.
     Size: Typically 2.5 to 10 cm (1 to 4 inches) long and up to about 5 cm (2 inches) wide.
     Color: Upper surface green, lower surface pale, canescent, gray-green appearance.
     Hairy: Upper leaf surface sparsely to moderately pubescent with short hairs, lower surface densely pubescent with short white hairs.
     Other: Shape: leaf, cordate with blunt tips or ovate with a cordate base (IL)
Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced
Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common
Bloom time (typical): July to August
Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial
Habitat: Dry, woods, meadows, disturbed sites, roadsides, shade, sun.
Fruit: 4 brown oblong shaped nutlets approximately 1 to 2 mm long are produced.
Seed:
Importance to wildlife: A nectar source for bees in the genera Apis, Bombus, Ceratina, Coelioxys, and others. Click for pollinator information on this flower. The foliage is not attractive to mammalian herbivores.
Similar species (if any): Fairly distinctive with no close lookalikes.
Ethnobotany: The Menominee employed this plant as part of the cure for pneumonia (Smith, p. 39, 1923). The Ojibwe prepared an infusion of the leaves and used it as a blood purifier and also to elevate a patient's body temperature. They also made a beverage tea from the leaves (Smith, pp. 372, 405, 1932).
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Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map
In US: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map
In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map
References: 1. Hilty, John. (Illinois Wildflowers: abbreviated IL) https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/index.htm
2. Plants of the World Online, Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, https://powo.science.kew.org/
Synonym(s):
Basionym: na
Homotypic Synonym(s): Nepeta vulgaris Lam., Cataria vulgaris Gaterau
Heterotypic Synonym(s): Nepeta tomentosa Vitman and many others: see Plants of the World Online.
Autonym: na
Wetland Status (NC): FACU
Wetland Status (MW): FACU