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catnip


catnip

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Catnip (Nepeta cataria).—Walter Chandoha

Aromatic herb (Nepeta cataria) of the mint family. Catnip has spikes of small, purple-dotted flowers. It has been used as a seasoning and as a medicinal tea for colds and fever. Because its mintlike flavour and aroma are particularly exciting to domestic cats, it is often used as a stuffing for cat toys.

Variants of CATNIP

catnip or catmint

This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.
For the full entry on catnip, visit Britannica.com.

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