Mentha cervina

Mentha cervina, commonly known as hart's pennyroyal, is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Mentha (mint) genus. It is native to the western Mediterranean Sea region, growing naturally from southwestern France to the Iberian Peninsula, and south to Azores, Morocco and Algeria. Its common name reflects a traditional association with the separate species Mentha pulegium or pennyroyal. The plants were associated due to their shared high pulegone content, which gives them both a distinctive, strong aroma. A sprawling herb growing up to 30 cm tall, Mentha cervina has been used both whole and as its essential oil in a variety of culinary and traditional medical contexts. More recently, research has examined its constituent chemicals' potential antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal abilities. Due to overall declines in its population and localized extinctions, Mentha cervina has been assessed as a Near Threatened species on the IUCN Red List.

No narrative description available for this taxon yet.