How to Identify a Pennyroyal
Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) has traditionally been used as a medicinal herb and for repelling fleas, mosquitoes and other insect pests. However, according to "Mother Earth News," if the leaves are ingested by animals or humans, it can lead to miscarriages, liver damage and death. The magazine adds that it is still suitable to place fresh leaves in dog kennels or in your pocket to deter pests. Golden Harvest Organics warns that if cats eat the leaves or rub up against them, the results may be toxic. You may want to identify pennyroyal because of its invasiveness in your garden or for its benefits, such as deterring fleas. Either way, handle pennyroyal with gloves, as its foliage can cause skin irritation. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Identify if the plant is pennyroyal by its foliage. Pennyroyal leaves are oval-shaped with pointed tips, gray to green in color and are arranged opposite one another along the stem. The leaves are slightly hairy.
-
2
Determine if the herb is pennyroyal by its flowers when they bloom in the summer and early fall. The lavender-colored flowers have a tuft-like appearance and form above each leaf pair along most of the stem.
-
-
3
Smell the plant to determine if it is pennyroyal. Since it is part of the mint family, pennyroyal has a strong, minty aroma.
-
4
Look at the plant's main stem. Pennyroyal has a slightly hairy stem that, when mature, is up to 12 inches long; the stems are rectangular rather than cylindrical and stand up straight.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, pennyroyal is present along the west coast of North America and in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Wherever you live, however, you may encounter the herb if it has been planted as an ornamental.
