84 FLOWERS OF THE WOODS AND COPSES 
purple bracts or leaflike organs larger than the calyx, purple, the 
heads egg-shaped. 
The plant is 1-2 ft. high. It is flowering in June up to October in 
some places. The plant is a deciduous, herbaceous perennial, increased 
by division. It is worthy of more attention than is given it. 
Marjoram has large proterandrous hermaphrodite flowers, i.e. with 
male and female organs on the same flower, and smaller female flowers. 
It is like Wild Thyme in the position and secretion of the honey, and is 
Photo. G. B. Dixon 
MARJORAM (Origanum vulgare, L.) 
more conspicuous though less sweet-scented. The flowers have lost the 
power of self-pollination, as the plant is much visited by insects. The 
tube is 7 mm. long in the large complete flowers, and 4-5 mm. in 
the small female flowers. A great variety of insects visit it, Bomebus, 
Flatictus, Empis, Ascia, Evistalis, Helophilus, Sicus, Myopa, Ocyptera, 
Prosena, Satyrus ganira. The small female flowers are in bloom a 
week before the larger ones. 
The nutlets are free and fall around the plant automatically, the 
plant dispersing them unaided. 
Marjoram is a lime-lover, and grows especially on lime soil, being 
found on the chalk, limestone formations, and oolites. 
