Pennyroyal is a perennial herb. It is cultivated only in small quantities and sometimes grown in gardens. The leaves have a strong smell which resembles that of spearmint.
The Pennyroyal originates from the Mediterranean region. The plants can be weedy or invasive and are now found as an agricultural weed in America, Australia and Africa.
The plant is sometimes used as a cooking herb. In small quantities, teas of Pennyroyal are used for medicinal purposes. The plant is known to induce abortion. Essential oil extracted from the plant (Pennyroyal oil) is very poisonous.
Names
Scientific
Mentha pulegium
English
European pennyroyal
Mosquito plant
Pennyroyal
Pudding grass
Squaw mint
Dutch
Polei
Spanish
Menta poleo
Poleo
French
Herbe de Saint Laurent
Herbes aux puces
Menthe pouliot
Pouliot
Pouliot royal
German
Flohkraut
Polei
Polei-Minze
Italian
Menta poleggio
Taxonomy
Genus
Mentha
Family
Lamiaceae
Order
Lamiales
Crop categories
Herbs
Medicinal plants
Temperate crops
Essential oils