Clinopodium nepeta (synonym: Calamintha nepeta), known as lesser calamint,
Description
Lesser calamint is a perennial shrub, forming a compact mound of shiny green
oregano-like leaves. The flowers are lavender pink. The plant reaches a height of .
The lesser calamint smells like a cross between mint and oregano. It attracts honeybees and butterflies.
Lesser calamint usually grows in the summer and well into the fall. It can become dormant in the winter months then reblossom in spring. In fall the flowers fall to the ground and will self-seed. Seedlings will flower in late August.
Lesser calamint often grows wild but can also be kept in pots. The average
life expectancy of a plant is 3–4 years. It is susceptible to
powdery mildew.
Taxonomy
The species was first described by
Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as
Melissa nepeta. It was subsequently placed in
Calamintha,
Thymus,
Satureja and
Clinopodium, among other genera. The last of these is currently accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.
Subspecies
Three subspecies are recognized:
-
Clinopodium nepeta subsp. nepeta – South Central and Southern Europe to Northern Iran
-
Clinopodium nepeta subsp. spruneri – Mediterranean to the Caucasus
-
Clinopodium nepeta subsp. subisodontum – East Central and Southeast Europe
Uses
Lesser calamint is commonly used as a herb in the
Italian cuisine and Corsican cuisine, where it is called
nepita,
mentuccia,
nipitella or
nepitella. In Rome it is used in the preparation of the Carciofi alla Romana. In southern Italy it is used in the making of a goat cheese called
cassiedu, giving the cheese a minty taste.
Some sources state that
Nepeta nepetella can be used in cooking like the lesser calamint.
C. nepeta has a long history of use as a herbal medicine as a tea for cramps and the digestive tract.
Research has found that extracts of C. nepeta, such as essential oils, have antifungal, insecticidal and insect-repellent properties.
