The two photographs above were inherited by an aunt in Swansea, South Wales. They were particularly intriguing as they were taken in Butte by the renowned photographer, Dusseau.
In this article. Catnip, catmint, catwort, field balm -- it doesn't matter what you call it. Lions, tigers, panthers, and your common domestic tabby just can't seem to get enough of this fragrant herb. Originally from Europe and Asia, minty, lemony, potent catnip -- Nepeta cataria -- has long been associated with cats. Even its Latin-derived cataria means of a cat.. And research shows that cats big and small adore this weedy, invasive member of the mint family.
The Nepeta plants became known as catnip very simply due to the effect of the plants on cats. The ingredient that causes a reaction in cats is called Nepetalactone. It is an essential oil found in the stems and the leaves of the Nepeta plant.This chemical is thought to mimic the effects of a cat pheromone and causes a variety of behaviors. When a cat encounters catnip, a chain reaction occurs.he scientific name for the catnip plant is Nepeta. The name is believed to have come from the town of Nepete in Italy. There are several different species of Nepeta. There is Nepeta Cataria which is common catnip, the type used most frequently with cats and the one they seem to enjoy the most.