That informative! Thanks a lot for sharing, but just wanted to know, is it of any use to the plant in particular. I mean like the plant is pollinated by cats!!! Regards Pankaj
On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 10:51 AM, tanay bose <[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks Sir for the information !! > tanay > > On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 9:34 AM, Gurcharan Singh <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> Dear Tanay >> Perhaps this may satisfy you (biochemical reason): >> "The attraction of feline mammals to the odor of catnip (also called >> catmint) is not limited to domestic house cats. In fact, is is apparently >> attractive to all members of the cat family (Felidae), including lions and >> tigers. The chemical in catnip responsible for the unusual and comical >> behavior of cats is nepetalactone, a methylcyclopentane monoterpene. It is >> found in the leaves, stems and inforescences of catnip plants. Dried leaves, >> stems and flowers are placed in catnip toys and sold in natural food stores >> as a medicinal tea. Nepetalactone occurs naturally in cis-trans and >> trans-cis isomers. These isomers have slightly different 3-dimensional >> shapes with respect to the position of the methyl group on the cyclopentane >> component of the molecule. According to the Merck Index (1983), the >> cis-trans isomer comprises 70-99 percent of the nepetalactone in catnip >> plants." >> For more of this please go the original source: >> http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ecoph37.htm >> Perhaps now you won't ask that question again >> >> On Sun, Aug 15, 2010 at 9:19 AM, tanay bose <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> I could never understand the secret behind its common name being catnip >>> !! >>> tanay >>> >>> On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 7:22 AM, Gurcharan Singh <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>>> >>>> Nepeta cataria from Kashmir, commonly found in grazed areas and >>>> wastelands, photographed from Pampore on June 20, 2010 >>>> Common names: Catnip, Catmint >>>> French: Cataire, Menthe des chats >>>> German: Katzenminze >>>> Spanish: Hierba gatera, Menta de gato >>>> Leaves and shoots used as flavouring; dried leaves used in stews and >>>> soups; leaves chewed in toothache; oil of catnip obtained from herb. >>>> -- >>>> Dr. Gurcharan Singh >>>> Retired Associate Professor >>>> SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 >>>> Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. >>>> Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 >>>> http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Tanay Bose >>> Research Assistant & Teaching Assistant >>> Department of Botany >>> University of British Columbia >>> 3529-6270 University Blvd. >>> Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 (Canada) >>> Phone: 778-323-4036 >>> >> >> >> >> -- >> Dr. Gurcharan Singh >> Retired Associate Professor >> SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007 >> Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018. >> Phone: 011-25518297 Mob: 9810359089 >> http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ >> > > > > -- > Tanay Bose > Research Assistant & Teaching Assistant > Department of Botany > University of British Columbia > 3529-6270 University Blvd. > Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z4 (Canada) > Phone: 778-323-4036 > >
