What does nepeta mean?
Nepeta is a genus of aromatic herbs belonging to the mint family, Lamiaceae. Its best-known member is Nepeta cataria, commonly called catnip, a plant whose pungent scent and nepetalactone content can provoke playful excitement in many cats. Other species and hybrids are widely cultivated as ornamental garden plants, often under the common name catmint; these are valued for their typically gray-green foliage and clusters of blue, lavender, or white flowers. The term Nepeta is primarily a scientific designation, though it is also used informally in gardening and horticulture. It should not be treated as a synonym for every plant called catmint without checking the botanical name, because common names are less precise than genus names. Nepeta is therefore useful not only as an example of formal zoological-style botanical classification but also as a familiar group containing both a historically notable herb and numerous popular garden plants.
nounNepeta is a genus of aromatic, mostly perennial herbs in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It includes plants known as catnip and ornamental catmints.
- The scientific name of a genus of aromatic herbs in the mint family, including catnip and ornamental catmints.
"The garden center offers several cultivars of Nepeta, including the pale-blue ornamental commonly called Faassen's catmint."
"Nepeta is a diverse genus of aromatic herbs in the mint family."
"The researcher compared the chemical composition of several species of Nepeta."
Taxonomic genus names are treated as singular proper names and are not ordinarily pluralized.
"The botanist revised the description of Nepeta."
Catnip owes its celebrated effect on cats to nepetalactone, an aromatic compound found in its leaves.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nepeta come from?
The name Nepeta comes through botanical Latin from the Latin noun nepeta, an ancient name for an aromatic plant in the catnip group. The deeper pre-Latin origin of that ancient plant name is uncertain. Modern Nepeta also gave rise to chemical terminology such as nepetalactone, the compound closely associated with catnip's characteristic scent and effects on cats.
How nepeta is actually used
In botanical writing, Nepeta is normally capitalized and italicized. In ordinary discussion, it may appear in roman type when used as a genus name in running text.
Easily confused with nepeta
Catmint is a common name used for certain species or hybrids of Nepeta, whereas Nepeta is the scientific name of the entire genus.