Marjoram - Origanum syriacum, viridis = Mentha undulata

Marjoram

Latin (Botanical) name: Origanum syriacum L. = Origanum maru Boiss. = Origanum viridis L. = Origanum majorana L. = Origanum marjorana L. = Majorana hortensis Moench. = Marjorana hortensis Moench. = Mentha undulata Willd. = Majorana majorana (L.) Karst.

Family: Labiatae, Lamiaceae (Mint family).

Common name: Marjoram, Origanum, Sweet marjoram, knotted marjoram, Marjolaine à coquilles, Marjolaine d’Orient, Bardaqoash, Za’atar.

Origin: Egypt.

Plant description:

LABIATAE A. Juss. Corolla bilabiate with 2 distinct lips. Stamens 4. Leaves undivided or lobed. Leaves with entire margin. Flowers in terminal dense, globose or shortly cylindrical heads (in Origanum isthmicum solitary). Leaves ovate.

ORIGANUM L.: Leaves ovate entire, flowers in terminal panicled heads.

Flowers white in small heads. ORIGANUM SYRIACUM L. (= Origanum maru Boiss., not of L.): Leaves nearly sessile, densely hairy. Bracts small, 4-ranked, white-canescent. Flowers-heads often cylindrical, panicled. Of mint-small. The plant in Egypt represents v. aegyptiacum (L.) Täckh., more spreadingly hairy and less grey than the type. Perennial.

Source: STUDENTS’ FLORA OF EGYPT second edition, by VIVI TÄCKHOLM, D. Sc. (Stockholm) Professor of Systematic Botany, Faculty of Science, Cairo University. Published by Cairo University. Printed by COOPERATIVE PRINTING COMPANY Beirut, 1974.

Propagation: Fruits (seeds), cultivated perennial. Commercially in Upper Egypt.

Status:

The plant is vulnerable. It is collected for medicinal uses and to prepare hot tea. The plant needs conservation; both in situ and ex situ.

Source: Wild Medical Plant in Egypt. An Inventory to support Conservation and Sustainable Use. BATANOUNY K. H.

Part used:

The leaves or the whole herb.

Constituents:

Volatile oil consisting of more than 80% carvacrol, resin and flavonoids.

Source: Wild Medical Plant in Egypt. An Inventory to support Conservation and Sustainable Use. BATANOUNY K. H.

Folk Medicinal Uses:

Dry leaves are used as spice, condiment and to relieve pain. Fresh herb is used with sesame seed and olive oil with sugar to make a special dish. Hot tea is used for chest diseases.

Source: Wild Medical Plant in Egypt. An Inventory to support Conservation and Sustainable Use. BATANOUNY K. H.

Form and extraction:

i. Leaves (herb) or ground.

ii. Seeds whole for propagation (planting).

iii. Essential oil, steam distilled in atmospheric pressure.

iv. Floral water.

v. Fluid and tincture extract.