Stachys aethiopica

Stachys aethiopica or kattekruie (cats herb) in Afrikaans, is a soft, aromatic perennial reaching 50 cm in height. The young stems are square in cross-section. The plant has glandular hair.

Whorls of mauve, white or pink flowers are produced in August and September. The two-lipped flowers have small spots scattered across the central part of the corollas. The upper lip forms a hood from which the four stamens protrude. The scent exuded by this plant associates it with cat urine. 

The plant is strongly represented across the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, less so further inland into the Northern Cape, the Free State, Gauteng and Mpumalanga. The distribution range continues into tropical Africa.

The habitat is varied, including fynbos, renosterveld, grassland, scrub and forest. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (Euston-Brown and Kruger, 2023; Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Manning, 2009; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; http://pza.sanbi.org; http://redlist.sanbi.org).