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MARJORAM.— ORIGANUM. 



Natural order, Verticillatce. A genus of the 

 Didynamia Gymno&permia class. 



This plant is a native of Cyprus and 

 Candia, and is found also in Italy, Spain, 

 and Portugal. From the latter country the 

 English first obtained the seed of the sweet 

 or knotted marjoram, in the year 1573. The 

 Candia marjoram, Dictamnus, had been in- 

 troduced in 1551 : this species of origanum 

 is the Dittany of Crete, so much celebrated 

 by the ancient poets. It is the plant which 

 Venus is said to have brought for the cure of 

 her son iEneas. 



" A branch of healing dittany she brought, 

 Which in the Cretan fields with care she sought, 

 (Rough is the stem, which woolly leaves Burround; 

 The leaves with flowers, the flowers with purple 



crown'd,) 

 Well known to wounded goats ; a sure relief 

 To draw the pointed steel, and ease the <j;nef." 



Virgil, Mn . book x i i . 



VOL. 1. Z 



