84 FLOW T ERS 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 



MARJORAM (Origanum vulgar e, L.) 



Photo. G. B. Di: 



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, Bombus, 

 Halictus, Empis, Ascia, Eristalis, Helophilus, Sicns, Myopa, Ocyptera, 

 Prosena, Satyrus janira. 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. 



