ORIGANUM VULGARE. ORD. XIX. Verticiilate. 345 
anther: the germen is divided into four parts, from the centre of 
which rises a filiform style, crowned with a stigma, which is bifid, 
and reflexed: the seeds are four, se and lodged in the 
bottom of the calyx. 
_ This plant grows wild in many parts of Britain, especially on dry 
chalky hills,* or gravelly soils, and produces its flowers in July and 
August. It has an agreeable aromatic smell, approaching to that of 
marjoram, and a pungent taste, much resembling thyme, to which 
it is likewise thought to be more nearly allied in its medicinal 
qualities than to any of the other verticillate, and_ therefore 
deemed to be emmenagogue, tonic, stomachic, &c. These effects, 
however, can only be ascribed to the aromatic and stimulant powers 
which all the herbs of this natural order seem to possess in com- 
mon. Distilled with water it yields a moderate quantity of very 
acrid penetrating & essential oil, which has been much used for easing 
_the pain of carious teeth, by dropping it on cotton, and inserting 
it in the cavity of the aching tooth.’ The dried leaves used instead 
of tea, are said to be exceedingly grateful. They are also employ- 
ed in medicated baths and fomentations. 
- * Fence the derivation Origanum, 6 — montis gaudium, quod locis montanis 
delectetur. Vide Bod. in Theoph. p. 562 
The country people use the tops of the ae to dye purple. Withering, fic. 
A 
a —————— 
ORIGANUM MAJORANA. SWEET MARJORAM. 
S aimnmiieedl 
——_—_—_—— 
enema ea en 
———S—e_ee——— 
SYNONYMA,. Majorana. Pharm. Lond. & Edinb. . Majorana 
vulgaris. Bauh. Pin. p. 224. Raii Hist. p.. 538. . Majorana 
vulgaris estiva. Park. Theat. p. 11. Majorana major. Gerard 
Emiuc. p. 664. 
Class Didynamia. . Ord. Gymnospermia. Lin. Gen. Plait. 726. 
No. 29.—vor: 3. As 
