The Difference Between Catnip and Mint

Catnip is a green herb with a unique smell. When cats at home smell this smell, they will exhibit many abnormal behaviors. Many people think that catnip is a kind of mint when they see the name catnip. In fact, it is not the case. The two are completely different and there is a clear difference between them.

The Difference Between Catnip and Mint

1. Plant species

Catnip and mint belong to different plant species. Catnip is a species of angiosperms, dicots, and Nepeta labiatae. Although mint is angiosperms, dicots, it is a species of labiatae.

2. Blade shape

There is also a clear difference in the shape of the leaves of catnip and mint. The leaves of catnip are thicker than ordinary mint, and their colors are different. The color of catnip leaves is lighter, and there are fine hairs on the surface, which feels particularly comfortable when touched by hand. There are no bristles on the back of mint leaves, and its green color is darker and richer.

3. Different scent

There is also a clear difference in the scent emitted by catnip and mint. When you smell mint, you can smell the attractive minty aroma and have a cool feeling, while catnip has no obvious smell, but its smell can make cats excited, while cats will not have any reaction when they smell the scent of mint.

4. Efficacy

There are also obvious differences in the effects of catnip and mint. The main effect of catnip is to induce vomiting, and it can make cats addicted and excited. This kind of catnip is rarely used, but mint is a traditional Chinese medicine often used by humans. It can relieve wind and heat, clear the throat and moisten the throat, and relieve liver and depression. After this plant is used as medicine, it can be used to treat human wind-heat colds, sore throats, rubella, measles and other diseases. Its therapeutic effect is very outstanding.