- Recognize pennyroyal by the flower
- Where is pennyroyal found?
- Clear identification is not easy
- Pennyroyal is no longer used as a medicinal plant
Pennyroyal is poisonous and should therefore not be taken internally. There is a risk of confusion with the non-toxic peppermint, which is very popular in this country. This is how you can tell if you have poisonous pennyroyal or peppermint in front of you.
Pennyroyal (shown here) looks confusingly similar to peppermint
Recognize pennyroyal by the flower
- Flower color: lilac-violet
- Flowering period: July to September
- Stamens longer than flower
- Calyx hairy
- Growth height: 10 - 30 cm
- Scent: sharp smell of mint
Most of the properties of pennyroyal also apply to non-toxic peppermint. The only differences that can be seen with the naked eye are the length of the stamens and the calyx.
In pennyroyal, the stamens protrude beyond the flower, while in peppermint they are of the same length.
Pennyroyal has a slight hairiness on the flower throat, which is not found in peppermint.
Where is pennyroyal found?
Pennyroyal is very rare. It mainly grows on moist soil near rivers and lakes.
Pennyroyal prefers soil that is low in lime but rich in nutrients.
Larger deposits of pennyroyal are only found in the Rhine-Danube region.
Clear identification is not easy
Distinguishing between peppermint and pennyroyal is not easy. Crossbreeding with other mint species also changes the flowers and leaves of peppermint. Sometimes, even on closer examination, it is no longer possible to determine which species it is.
If you are not quite sure, it is better to leave such plants where they are. Pennyroyal poisoning can cause serious problems.
Pennyroyal is no longer used as a medicinal plant
Because of its toxicity in all parts of the plant, pennyroyal no longer plays a role in today's natural medicine. Also, recent research has found that pennyroyal venom can damage the liver.
In the past, the herb was used to make tea, which was used for contraception and for abortions. The deaths caused by ingestion helped establish the plant's toxicity.
In small doses, pennyroyal may only be used as a spice.
tips
Pennyroyal is an endangered species and is under protection. It is therefore hardly to be feared that it will be confused with the common peppermint.