Pycnanthemum is a member of the mint family. It has many different members in it's species range. There's a flower growing here in alabama that looks totally different from other species I have mentioned. Pynanthemum Flexuosum is a round, frilly flower unlike Pennyroyal and other members.
Pynanthemum Flexuosum isn't a typical type of flowering mint plant. Like other mints, it has a strong mint like scent that's very nice. It's used as a insect repellent sometimes in gardening and in the home. Bees and other insects that distribute pollens use the plant to take care of themselves and habitat.
You usually see mint around the outskirts of forests instead of deep in the woody area. It works by protecting the outer lining of the forest, not the internal itself. It's great for gardens like Lantana because the deer hate the smell and taste of it. It's not used for drinking or eating like pennyroyal, but as a repellant border.
Resources:
Encyclopedia Of Life Entry For Appalachian Mountainmint
http://eol.org/pages/588234/overview
Photo credits : snipped from: http://eol.org/pages/588234/overview
under creative commons for Kentucky Nature Plant Society
Pycnanthemum at wikipedia.org
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pycnanthemum
Applatchian Mountainmint
www.herbcompanion.com/.../herb-to-know-mountain-mint.aspx
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