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Of Nep or Cat-Mint

The Description. 1 CAt-Mint or Nep growes high, it brings forth stalks above a cubit long, covered, chamfered, and full of branches: the leaves are broad, nickt in the edges like those of Bawm or Hore-hound, but longer. The floures are of a whitish colour, they partly compasse about the uppermost sprigs, and partly grow on the very top, set in manner of an eare or catkin: the root is diversly parted, and endureth a long time: the whole herb together with the leaves & stalks are soft, and covered with a white down, but lesser than Horse-mint: it is of a sharp smel, and pierceth into the head: it hath a hot taste with a certain bitternesse.

The Place.

The first groweth about the borders of gardens and fields, neere to rough banks, ditches, and common wayes: it is delighted with moist and watery places, and is brought into gardens.

The Time.

The Cat-mints flourish by and by after the Spring: they floure in July and August.

The Names.

The later Herbarists doe call it Herba Cattaria, & Herba Catti, because cats are very much delighted herewith; for the smell of it is so pleasant unto them, that they rub themselves upon it, & wallow or tumble in it, and also feed on the branches and leaves very greedily. It is named of the Apothecaries Nepeta (but Nepeta properly so called is a Calamint, having the smell of Penny-Royall).

The Vertues.

It is a present helpe for them that be bursten inwardly by means of some fall received from an high place, and that are very much bruised, if the juice be given with wine or meade.