Pennyroyal

Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 8: Peasant to Eoumelia, p. 32
A detailed botanical illustration of Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium). The drawing shows a central, upright stem with several pairs of small, opposite, ovate leaves. At the top of the stem, there are several clusters of small, rounded flower heads. The base of the plant shows a horizontal, creeping stem with several small, rounded leaves and a network of roots.
Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium).

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium), a species of Mint (q.v.), a native of Europe and western Asia, abundant in England and in some parts of Ireland, not found wild in Scotland, though sometimes grown there in gardens for its reputed medicinal qualities. It enjoys a high popular reputation as an emmenagogue, but no dependence may be placed in its efficacy. The name pennyroyal is given to a small plant, Hedeoma pulegioides, allied to the mints, and having, like them, a pleasant aromatic smell and a warm pungent taste. It is much in use in domestic medicine, in the form of a warm infusion, to promote perspiration and as an emmenagogue.

Source scan(s): p. 0041