Pennyroyal
Mentha pulegium
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentha_pulegium
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Family
Lamiaceae
Genus
Mentha
Pennyroyal belongs to the family Lamiaceae, order Lamiales, within the Magnoliopsida class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Pennyroyal faces severe population declines due to habitat destruction from agricultural intensification and urban development, which has eliminated many of its traditional wetland and marshy habitats. The species is further threatened by drainage of seasonal pools and wet meadows, along with competition from invasive plant species that alter soil chemistry and moisture conditions.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Pennyroyal occurs in wet meadows, seasonal pools, marshy areas, and damp grasslands, typically in areas with fluctuating water levels and moist, often sandy or clay soils. The species also inhabits stream margins, pond edges, and other freshwater wetland peripheries where water tables remain high during growing seasons.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Pennyroyal faces severe population declines due to habitat destruction from agricultural intensification and urban development, which has eliminated many of its traditional wetland and marshy habitats. The species is further threatened by drainage of seasonal pools and wet meadows, along with competition from invasive plant species that alter soil chemistry and moisture conditions.
Habitat loss from agricultural conversion
Urban and infrastructure development
Wetland drainage and water diversion
Climate change altering precipitation patterns
Invasive species competition
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/pennyroyal