ORIGANUML. - MARJORAM
Scientific Description:
Suffruticose or herbaceous perennials, hairy or glabrous (often glaucous). Stems several, ascending or erect, usually branched. Leaves subsessile or ± petiolate, elliptic, ovate, cordate or suborbicular, entire or ± toothed, apex obtuse or acuminate. Verticillasters 2−several-flowered, aggregated in ± dense spike-like inflorescences (spicules) which are often arranged in a panicle or false corymb. Bracts always distinct from leaves in shape and size, usually imbricate, 1/2−3 × as long as calyx, either membranous and partly purple or yellowish-green, or resembling leaves in texture and colour. Flowers hermaphrodite or gynodioecious. Calyx variable, ± actinomorphic and 5-toothed, or zygomorphic and 1−2-lipped, 13 or c. 10-veined; throat usually with a ring of hairs. Corolla purple, pink or white, ± equally 2-lipped, tube 1 sometimes saccate or flattened; upper lip emarginate or shortly bilobed; lower lip 3-lobed. Stamens 4, lower pair longer, exserted from or ± included in corolla, ascending under upper lip, straight or divergent; filaments ± unequal; thecae divergent. Nutlets small, ovoid, brown.
Reference:
Ietswaart JH (1982). Origanum L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 7: 297−298.
Public Description:
Origanum is a genus of suffruticose or herbaceous perennials, known as “marjoram”, and is native to Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia. There are approximately 56 species in the world and 27 species (30 taxa) in Türkiye. The plants have strongly aromatic leaves and flowers. Many species, mainly “marjoram (Origanum majorana L.)” and “oregano (Origanum vulgare L.)” are used as spices instead of "thyme (Thymus L.)". Some species are also used medically for sedative, urine boosting, gas extracting and sweating purposes.
References:
Anonymous 1 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origanum, Accessed date: 14.02.2016.
Anonymous 2 (2016). https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/genus/origanum/, Accessed date: 14.02.2016.
Anonymous 3 (2016). http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Lamiaceae/Origanum/, Accessed date: 14.02.2016.
Sadıkoğlu N (2012). Origanum L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 568–570.
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