Nepeta racemosa, the dwarf catnip[2] or raceme catnip, syn. N. mussiniii,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to the Caucasus, Turkey and northern Iran. Growing to 30 cm (12 in) tall by 45 cm (18 in) wide, it is a herbaceous perennial with aromatic leaves and violet or lilac-blue flowers in summer.[4]
| Nepeta racemosa | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Genus: | Nepeta |
| Species: | N. racemosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Nepeta racemosa | |
| Subspecies[1] | |
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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This plant is one of several Nepeta species to be cultivated as an ornamental. It is particularly suitable for the front of a flower border or as groundcover. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit,[2][5] as has the cultivar ‘Walker’s Low’[6]
Nepetas are notable for their euphoric effect on some domestic cats. It is thought to be caused by the chemical nepetalactone which also has effects on some insects, repelling cockroaches and mosquitoes.
Taxonomy
editNepeta racemosa is classified in the genus Nepeta in the Lamiaceae. It has three subspecies. It was scientifically described and named by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1785.[1]
Synonyms
editNepeta racemosa has 22 botanical synonyms of the species as a whole or one of its subspecies.[1][7][8][9]
| Name | Year | Rank | Syn. of | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glechoma marifolia Kuntze | 1891 | species | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Glechoma mussinii (Spreng.) Kuntze | 1891 | species | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Glechoma racemosa (Lam.) Kuntze | 1891 | species | N. racemosa | ≡ hom. |
| Nepeta crassifolia Boiss. & Buhse | 1860 | species | subsp. crassifolia | ≡ hom. |
| Nepeta cyanotricha Tausch | 1831 | species | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Nepeta diffusa Fisch. ex Spreng. | 1825 | species | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Nepeta elbursensis Rech.f. | 1952 | species | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Nepeta grandiflora var. marifolia (Kuntze) Kusn. | 1898 | variety | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Nepeta grandiflora var. mussinii (Spreng.) Kusn. | 1898 | variety | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Nepeta grandiflora var. racemosa (Lam.) Kusn. | 1898 | variety | N. racemosa | ≡ hom. |
| Nepeta hajastana Grossh. | 1944 | species | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Nepeta haussknechtii Bornm. | 1899 | species | subsp. haussknechtii | = het. |
| Nepeta longiflora Sims | 1806 | species | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Nepeta marifolia Boiss. & A.Huet | 1859 | species | subsp. racemosa | = het. nom. illeg. |
| Nepeta mussinii Spreng. | 1805 | species | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Nepeta noraschenica Grossh. | 1949 | species | subsp. haussknechtii | = het. |
| Nepeta obtusata E.Mey. | 1831 | species | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Nepeta reichenbachiana Fisch. & C.A.Mey. | 1842 | species | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Nepeta salviifolia Pers. | 1806 | species | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Nepeta tenuicaulis Boiss. | 1879 | species | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Nepeta transcaucasica Grossh. | 1944 | species | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Nepeta wildenowiana Benth. | 1834 | species | subsp. racemosa | = het. |
| Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym ; = heterotypic synonym | ||||
Names
editThe Latin specific epithet racemosa means “having racemes of flowers”.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Nepeta racemosa Lam". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ a b "RHS Plant Selector - Nepeta racemosa". Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "Nepeta racemosa". The Plant List. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
- ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
- ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 66. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
- ^ "Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low'". Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- ^ "Nepeta racemosa var. crassifolia (Boiss. & Buhse) A.L.Budantzev". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ "Nepeta racemosa var. haussknechtii (Bornm.) A.L.Budantzev". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ "Nepeta racemosa var. racemosa". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
- ^ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
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