STURTEVANT S NOTES ON EDIBLE PLANTS 397 



the heart is made into pickles or, when boiled, is served at table. The pith makes a sort 

 of sago. 



Origanum heracleoticum Linn. Lahiatae. winter sweet marjoram. 



Mediterranean region. This species has been identified with the Cunila gallinacea 

 of Pliny.i It is mentioned in the early botanies, is said to have reached England in 

 1640'' and is recorded in American gardens in 1806.' It finds mention by Burr in 1863 

 but seems fiow to have disappeared from our seed-lists. It is frequently mentioned by 

 early garden writers under the name winter sweet marjoram and has a variegated variety. 

 It is an aromatic of sweet flavor and is much used for soups, broths and stuffings. 



O. majorana Linn, sweet marjoram. 



Europe. Sweet marjoram was introduced into British gardens in 1573.* This is 

 the species usually present in the herb garden. It is supposed to be the amaracus of 

 Pliny,* who speaks of it as cultivated. It is also the marjorana of Albertus Magnus ' 

 in the thirteenth century and is mentioned as ctiltivated in the early botanies. Its modem 

 culture is quite extended, and at Bombay it is considered sacred to Siva and Vishnu.'' 

 It is said to have reached Britain in 1573 ' and was a well-known inmate in American 

 gardens in 1806.' This biennial, always treated as an annual, is highly aromatic and is 

 much used, both in the green state and when dried, for flavoring broths, soups and stiiffings. 



O. onites Linn, pot marjoram. 



Southeast Europe, Asia Minor and Syria. Pot marjoram is a perennial species from 

 Sicily. Pliny ' speaks of this species as called onitin, or prasion, in the first century. 

 Its introduction into Britain is said to have taken place in 1759." It was in American 

 gardens in 1806 '' but does not appear to have been much cultivated, although recorded 

 by Bvirr in 1863. Its name does not now occur in our seed-lists as it is inferior to the 

 preceding variety. 



O. vulgare Linn, organy. wild marjoram. 



North Africa, Europe and adjoining Asia. This species has become sparingly natural- 

 ized in eastern America. Don " saj^ it is used in cookery only in defatolt of one of the 

 other majorams. Mcintosh " says that the leaves and tender tops are in constant demand 



' Pliny lib. 20, c. 62. 



Mcintosh, C. Book Card. 2:239. 1855. 



McMahon, B. Amer. Card. Cal. 199. 1806. 



Mcintosh, C. Book Card. 2:239. 1855. 

 PUny lib. 21, c. 35. 



Albertus Magnus Feg. Jessen Ed. 537. 1867. 

 'Bird.vood Veg. Prod. Bomb. 242, 368. 1865. 



Mcintosh, C. Book Card. 2:239. i855- 

 McMahon, B. Amer. Card. Cal. 199. 1806. 



"> Pliny lib. 20, c. 67. 



"Mcintosh, C. Boo* Cord. 2:239. 1855. 

 "McMahon, B. Amer. Card. Cal. $'&i. 1806. 

 "Don, G. Hist. Dichl. Pis. 4:765. 1838. 

 "Mcintosh, C. Book Card. 2:2iS. 1855. 



