2406 



OREOPANAX 



ORIGANUM 



Andreanum, Marchal. Shrub, with variable foliage: 

 Ivs. elliptic to roundish, stalked, the lower surface and 

 petioles red-tomentose, varying from angled to deeply 

 digitate and the divisions pinnatifid: fl. -heads globular, 

 in a terminal raceme. Ecuador. R.H. 1882, pp. 524, 

 525. 



Thibautii, Hook. Small tree, stellate-pubescent on 

 the young parts: Ivs. long-stalked, 5-7-foliolate, the 

 Ifts. lanceolate or oblanceolate, entire, 6 in. or less long, 

 dark green: fl.-heads J^in. diam., in a terminal raceme 

 1 ft. long. Mex. B.M. 6340. 



0. pedunculatum was once listed in Calif., with following 

 description: "Ivs. palmate, tinged with red; makes a fine foliage 

 plant. Guatemala." It turns out to be Koelreuteria paniculata. O. 

 trilobum, Hort., a plant offered abroad, may belong here. 



L. H. B. 



ORIGANUM (ancient Greek name said to mean 

 delight of mountains). Labiates. MARJORAM. Sweet 

 herbs; and a few species grown in rock-gardens and 

 borders for the ornamental foliage and flowers. 



Perennial herbs or undershrubs, with fls. in 2-fld. 

 whorls, rarely 6-10-fld., crowded into globose or oblong 

 spikelets which are disposed in terminal corymbs or 

 panicles: bracts colored and larger than the calyx, or 

 green and smaller; calyx various, 5-toothed or 2-lipped; 

 corolla 2-lipped, the upper or posterior lip 2-lobed or 

 emarginate, the lower 3-lobed; stamens 4, included or 

 exserted; style 2-lobed : nutlets ovoid or oblong, smooth. 

 About 30 species, largely in the Medit. region, but 

 also in extra-Trop. Asia. Botanically these plants are 

 closely allied to the thyme, but the fls. of marjoram are 

 borne in bracted heads, while those of thyme are borne 

 in few-fld. whorls which are axillary or spicate above. 

 By some authors, the genus is divided into Origanum, 

 with 5-toothed and more or less 13-nerved calyx, and 

 Majorana with oblique calyx- mouth, the upper lip 

 entire and the lower one small or wanting. 



The sweet marjoram is O. Majorana (or Majorana 

 hortensis), not uncommon in gardens. The pot mar- 

 joram appears to be very little known in this country. 

 It is commonly referred to 0. vulgare, although some- 

 times to 0. Onites. The former is probably the species 

 concerned, although it is not impossible that both 

 species are confused in this horticultural name, pot 

 marjoram. 



Cultivation. Sweet or annual marjoram (Origanum 

 Majorana) is a native of the countries bordering the 

 Mediterranean sea. It is an erect branching perennial, 

 bearing grayish green rounded or oval leaves, small 

 whitish flowers in terminal clusters which appear in 

 midsummer, and little oval dark brown seeds. The 

 plant has a pleasing odor and warm aromatic bitterish 

 taste, due to a volatile oil which is soluble in water, is 

 officinally credited with tonic and gently excitant 

 properties, and, as an infusion, is employed in domestic 

 medicine to "bring out the rash" in such diseases as 

 measles. More frequently than in medicine, however, 

 its green parts are used as a condiment, being highly 

 esteemed as a seasoning for soups, stews, meat-pies and 

 dressings. In the garden this plant is treated as an" 

 annual, hence the name "annual marjoram." This 

 practice became necessary since the plants are prone 

 to winter-kill unless carefully protected. Its propaga- 

 tion is also somewhat precarious, owing to the small 

 size of the seeds and the tenderness of the seedlings 

 when exposed to the sun. Shade, therefore, until the 

 plants are well rooted is usually necessary. Succes- 

 sional plantings may be made throughout the spring; 

 sometimes transplanting from hotbeds or coldframes 

 in May or June is practised. The plants should stand 

 6 inches asunder in rows 12 inches apart, in light and 

 dry but good soil, be kept clean throughout the season, 

 and harvested for winter use just before flowering, the 

 plant being cut close to the ground and hung in a cool, 

 airy place to dry. If planted early, leaves may be 

 gathered in late spring. According to Dreer, American- 



grown seed is better than imported seed for winter 

 use, as it makes more bulk, while imported seed is better 

 when the plants are to be cut green for summer use. 

 Pot marjoram (Origanum vulgare), a branching hardy 

 perennial, about 2 feet tall, bearing in midsummer pink 

 or purple flowers, and small brown oval seeds, grows 

 wild on the borders of European woods. The highly 

 aromatic leaves and the young shoots gathered just 

 before blossoming are used like those of sweet marjoram. 

 The plant is of easy culture, succeeding in all warm 

 garden soils. It may be propagated by seed, but, where 

 established, division in spring or early autumn is gen- 

 erally practised. The plants should be set 10 inches 

 asunder in rows 15 inches apart, and kept well culti- 

 vated. Dwarf pot marjoram, a variety that comes true 

 from seed, bears large heads of whitish flowers, and is 

 often used as an edging plant. (M. G. Kains.) 



A. Spikelets erect. 

 B. Calyx of 5 nearly or quite equal teeth: fl.-bracts medium 



in size, often colored. 



vulgare, Linn. Rootstocks nearly horizontal: plant 

 more or less hairy: Ivs. stalked, broadly ovate, sub- 

 serrate or entire, broadly rounded at the base or sub- 

 cordate: fls. purplish (varying to pink or nearly white), 

 in corymbed clusters or short spikes; bracts purplish, 

 about the length of the calyx; corolla longer than calyx; 



2 or 4 of the stamens exserted. Cult, in old gardens; 

 also wild along eastern roadsides and in fields, natu- 

 ralized from Eu. An erect herb, 1-2 }/% ft. high, aromatic. 

 It runs into several forms, one of them being var. 

 aureum, Hort., with golden or yellow foliage. 



BB. Calyx oblique or 2-lipped: fl.-bracts medium or small, 

 not prominently colored. 



c. Lvs. stalked. 



Majorana, Linn. (Majorana hortensis, Moench). 

 SWEET MARJORAM. ANNUAL, MARJORAM, from the 

 method of cult., although the plant is perennial. 

 Nearly glabrous, 1-2 ft.: Ivs. oblong-ovate, entire, 

 obtuse, tomentose: fls. purplish or whitish; spikelets 

 oblong, 3-5 in a cluster. Eu. 



cc. Lvs. not stalked. 



Onites, Linn. (Onites tomentosa, Raf. Majorana 

 Onites, Benth.). Perennial: st. erect, nearly simple, 

 hirsute: Ivs. sessile, ovate, subserrate, villous or 

 tomentose, mostly cordate at the base: fls. as in 0. 

 Majorana but a little larger; spikelets ovoid, very 

 numerous in a dense cluster. S. E. Eu., Asia Minor, 

 Syria. 



AA. Spikelets nodding: fl.-bracts large, often colored, 

 usually concealing the calyx. 



sipyleum, Linn. (0. hybridum, Mill.). Woody and 

 procumbent at base, the upright branches very villous: 

 Ivs. short-petioled, entire, the lower ones suborbicular 

 and hairy, the upper ones ovate, glabrous and glaucous; 

 floral Ivs. small: spikes oblong, solitary or in 3's, nod- 

 ding, the bracts ovate and colored; calyx glabrous, the 



3 upper teeth longer; corolla pink. Levant; named for 

 Mt. Sipylos. A useful little plant for rock-work and 

 dry places; 8-16 in. high; fl.-heads rose-color. 



pulchellum, Boiss. Perennial, grayish pilose, the sts. 

 ascending: Ivs. ovate, obtuse, entire, the lower ones 

 short-petioled and the others sessile: spikes nodding, 

 ovate or oblong, the bracts reddish, ovate, glabrous or 

 ciliate; fls. rose-colored; calyx glabrous, the throat 

 bearded, upper lip repand-tridentate, the lower very 

 short and 2-lobed; corolla-tube not gibbous, twice 

 exceeding calyx. S. E. Eu. and eastward. Said to be 

 a pretty shrub-like little plant with fl.-heads resem- 

 bling small hops. 



O. Diddmnus, 'Linn., from Crete (Crete Dittany), is a tender 

 species with entire woolly mottled Ivs. and purplish or pink fls. in 

 hop-like heads. L H. B. 



