Pennyroyal

Pennyroyal
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Lamiaceae Genus: Mentha Species: pulegium
Binomial nomenclature
Mentha pulegium L.

The herb Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium, Lamiaceae), is a member of the mint genus; an essential oil extracted from it is used in aromatherapy - note that as pennyroyal has a traditional folk medicine use in inducing abortions, pregnant women should avoid the use of the oil.

The oil is also used as a flea repellant for pets. This latter usage is the origin of the plant's Latin species name, the flea being Pulex irritans. However the distantly related American Pennyroyal or Hedeoma pulegioides is the source of much of what is called pennyroyal oil.

The term Pennyroyal (or Pennyrile, from a substandard dialectical pronunciation) is also used to describe a geographic province of western Kentucky where the above-described herb grew in profusion sufficient to lend its name to the whole area.