Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium, Sp. Pl.: 577 (1753))

Family: Lamiaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 577 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Mentha

Vegetable: False

Observations: Macaronesia, Europe, Medit. to N. Iran and N. Ethiopia

Description

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) is a herbaceous plant that belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Renowned for its aromatic properties, this perennial plant is distinguished by its small, oval leaves and clusters of delicate, lilac flowers. Pennyroyal exudes a distinctive, minty fragrance, which has historically made it a popular choice in herbal remedies and culinary applications.

Native to a broad range extending from Macaronesia and Europe to the Mediterranean region, Pennyroyal’s habitat even reaches as far as Northern Iran and Northern Ethiopia. Such a wide distribution highlights its adaptability to various climates and soil types, although it typically favors moist environments where it can thrive on riverbanks and damp meadows.

Pennyroyal has been recognized and cataloged in scientific literature since at least 1753, as noted in its formal description by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus. Its historical applications are numerous, traditionally being used as an insect repellent, a flavoring agent, and in multiple folk medicine practices. Despite these uses, it should be noted that Pennyroyal contains pulegone, a compound that can be toxic in large quantities, and thus its use demands careful control.

The charm and utility of Pennyroyal contribute richly to its enduring presence in both natural ecosystems and cultivated gardens. Its significance is as much cultural as botanical, offering insights into the historic interactions between humans and plant species within its native regions.

Common Names

Eng: european pennyroyal, pennyroyal, penny-royal
Deu: polei-minze, poleiminze
Dan: polei-mynte
Lit: taškuotoji mėta
Fra: menthe pouliot, pouliot
Por: poejo
Nld: polei
Swe: polejmynta
Spa: poleo
Ita: pulegio, menta poleggio
Cym: brefai, breflys, brymlys, coluddlys, colyddlys, llyrcadlys, llys y coludd, llys y gwaed, llysiau coludd, llysiau’r archoll, llysiau’r gwaed, llysiau’r pwdin
En: Pennyroyal, European pennyroyal, Pudding grass, Dƿeorgedosle, Penny-royal, English Pennyroyal, True Pennyroyal, Pennyroyoal, Peppermint
Af: Polei
Ar: فليه (فِليّه)، فليحه (فِليحه), نعنع (نَعْنَع)، لمام ( لِمام), نعناع أوروبي
Az: Pulqar yarpızı
Eu: Txortalo
Bg: Блатна мента
Ca: Poliol, Poliol d’aigua, Poniol
Zh: 唇萼薄荷
Kw: Menta riel
Cs: Polej obecná
Da: Polejmynte, Polei-mynte
Nl: Polei
Eo: Pulegio
Fi: Puolanminttu
Fr: Menthe pouliot, Pouliot, Herbe de saint Laurent
Gl: Poexo
Ka: Ომბალო
De: Poleiminze, Polei-Minze, Brunelle, Flohkraut, Polei
El: Μέντα Φλισκούνι
He: נענע הכדורים
Hu: Csombormenta
Ga: Borógach
It: Pulegio, Menta pollegio, Menta Poleggio
Ko: 페니로얄민트
Ku: Pûng
Lv: Paleju mētra
Lt: Taškuotoji mėta
Mk: Метвица
Mt: Plejju
Fa: پونه
Pl: Mięta polej
Pt: Poejo
Pt-br: Hortelã-miúda, Poejo-das-hortas, Poejo-real, Menta-miúda
Ro: Busuiocul cerbilor
Ru: Mjata blošnica, Мята блошница, Мята болотная
Sr: Метвица
Sk: Mäta sivá
Es: Poleo, Menta poleo, Poleo común
Sv: Polejmynta
Zh-tw: 唇萼薄荷
Zh-hant: 唇萼薄荷
Tr: Yarpuz
Uk: М’ята блошина
Ur: پودینہ جبلی
Cy: Brymlys, Brefai, Breflys, Coluddlys, Colyddlys, Llyrcadlys, Llys y Coludd, Llys y Gwaed, Llysiau Coludd, Llysiau’r Archoll, Llysiau’r Gwaed, Llysiau’r Pwdin

Synonyms

• Mentha aromatica (Salisb.)
• Mentha pulegium f. brusanensis (Topitz)
• Pulegium tomentellum f. ninimum (Pérard)
• Mentha pulegium subvar. prostrata ((Timb.-Lagr.) Rouy)
• Mentha pulegium subsp. vulgaris ((Mill.) Briq.)
• Pulegium vulgare f. serratum (Pérard)
• Pulegium aromaticum (Gray)
• Pulegium vulgare f. incanum (Pérard)
• Pulegium daghestanicum ((Boriss.) Holub)
• Pulegium heterophyllum (Opiz ex Boenn.)
• Mentha subtomentella (Heinr.Braun)
• Mentha tomentella (Hoffmanns. & Link)
• Mentha hirtiflora (Opiz ex Heinr.Braun)
• Mentha pulegium var. pubescens (Boenn.)
• Pulegium aromaticum var. album (Gray)
• Mentha pulegium var. hirsuta (Briq.)
• Mentha pulegium f. alba (Rainha)
• Micromeria maritima (Yild., Sadikoglu & M.Keskin)
• Mentha gibraltarica (Willd.)
• Mentha pulegium f. cermatisa (Topitz)
• Mentha pulegium f. setuligera (Topitz)
• Mentha pulegium f. communis (Topitz)
• Mentha pulegium var. thymoides (Topitz)
• Mentha pulegium var. pulegioides ((Dumort.) Halácsy)
• Mentha pulegium var. tomentella ((Hoffmanns. & Link) Cout.)
• Calamintha fenzlii (Vis.)
• Mentha pulegium var. hyperiantha (Briq.)
• Mentha pulegium var. microphylla (Friv.)
• Mentha pulegium f. strongylophylla (Topitz)
• Mentha pulegium var. strongylophylla ((Topitz) Topitz)
• Pulegium aromaticum var. erectum (Gray)
• Mentha pulegium f. sphenoides (Topitz)
• Mentha pulegium f. albiflora (Cheshm.)
• Mentha pulegium var. eriantha (DC.)
• Mentha daghestanica (Boriss.)
• Mentha pulegium var. cacocea (Topitz)
• Minthe pulegia ((L.) St.-Lag.)
• Pulegium vulgare (Mill.)
• Micromeria fenzlii (Regel)
• Pulegium pulegium (H.Karst.)
• Mentha pulegium var. hirtiflora (Heinr.Braun)
• Mentha subtomentella var. humillima (Heinr.Braun)
• Mentha pulegium var. gigantea (Lej. & Courtois)
• Mentha pulegium f. anodonta (Topitz)
• Pulegium tomentellum f. erianthum (Pérard)
• Mentha pulegioides (Dumort.)
• Pulegium vulgare f. algeriense (Pérard)
• Mentha pulegium var. cotorensis (Topitz)
• Pulegium vulgare f. linearifolium (Pérard)
• Pulegium vulgare f. hirsutum (Pérard)
• Mentha pulegium var. vulgaris ((Mill.) Briq.)
• Pulegium erectum (Mill.)
• Mentha pulegium subsp. tomentosa ((Sm.) Nyman)
• Pulegium micranthum (Claus)
• Mentha tomentosa var. villosa (Benth.)
• Mentha subtomentella var. microphylla ((Friv.) Heinr.Braun)
• Mentha pulegium var. heterophylla (Boenn.)
• Mentha numidica (Poir.)
• Mentha subtomentella var. ceplaloniae (Heinr.Braun)
• Mentha pulegium subsp. gibraltarica ((Willd.) Briq.)
• Mentha aucheri (Pérard)
• Mentha pulegium var. subtomentella ((Heinr.Braun) Topitz)
• Mentha pulegium var. exigua ((L.) Nyman)
• Mentha pulegium f. hellenica (Topitz)
• Mentha pulegium subsp. erinoides ((Heldr.) Kokkini)
• Mentha pulegium var. villosa (Benth.)
• Mentha pulegium f. stenobasea (Topitz)
• Mentha pulegium subsp. cephalonia ((Heinr.Braun) Kokkini)
• Mentha montana (Lowe ex Benth.)
• Mentha pulegium f. macrostylos (Topitz)
• Mentha pulegium var. humifusa (Lej. & Courtois)
• Mentha pulegium f. foetida (Topitz)
• Thymus bidentatus (Stokes)
• Mentha pulegium var. erecta ((Mill.) Briq.)
• Mentha pulegium f. cephalonia (Heinr.Braun)
• Mentha pulegium var. prostrata (Timb.-Lagr.)
• Mentha albarracinensis (Pau)
• Pulegium vulgare f. nummulariuoides (Pérard)
• Pulegium tomentellum (C.Presl)
• Mentha pulegium var. gibraltarica ((Willd.) Batt.)
• Pulegium pubescens (Opiz ex Boenn.)
• Mentha erinoides (Heldr.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Austria (native)
• Azores (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Canary Is. (native)
• Cape Verde (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• Egypt (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Madeira (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Amsterdam-St.Paul Is (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina Northwest (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Chile Central (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Juan Fernández Is. (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Uruguay (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Jul 29, 2021 by Jardin Des Cocagnous (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 26, 2021 by André LAURENT (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 28, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 12, 2021 by Daniel SOTTY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2020 by Patrick Nard (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Nov 23, 2018 by Andres Hernández (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 1, 2019 by itto Ghaz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 29, 2021 by Jardin Des Cocagnous (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 6, 2020 by kia Vang (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 12, 2021 by Daniel SOTTY (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Sep 18, 2022 by Cardanel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 28, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 26, 2021 by André LAURENT (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 13, 2017 by Filipe Moreira (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 12, 2021 by Daniel SOTTY (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 14, 2022 by Eugénio Ramos (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 13, 2021 by Fuentes Alessandro (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 24, 2021 by felix1972 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Thierry Pernot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 10, 2022 by Georges Olioso (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Sep 28, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 3, 2022 by Lars Mannzen (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 31, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 24, 2020 by Etienne Clymans (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 28, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Jacques HOUDRÉ (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 23, 2019 by indipiku (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 2, 1877 by Tela Botanica − Herbier PONTARLIER-MARICHAL (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 20, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Florent BECK (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Dominique REMAUD (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 7, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Jorge Costa (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2927189)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:451022-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Mentha pulegium L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 7

Soil nutriments: 7

Soil salinity: 1