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DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



1. 0. vulgare, L. (Common Marjoram.) Stem purple, leafy, branched near 

 the top, 1 to 2 feet high, and hairy. Leaves stalked, entire, or slightly ser- 

 rate, sprinkled with resinous dots, paler underneath, ovate, lanceolate, an 

 inch in length, petioles shorter than the blades, bracts purplish. Flowers in a 

 terminal 3-forked panicle, in globular, compact heads ; calyx hairy inside, 

 with short, nearly equal, teeth ; corolla twice as long as the calyx, with 4 broad, 

 nearly equal, lobes, the upper one broadest and erect ; stamens longer than 

 corolla-tube. Flowers purplish-white. AVhole plant highly aromatic to the 

 taste. July to August. 



2. 0. marjorana, L. (Marjoram. Sweet Marjoram.) Stems numerous, 

 woody, 12-18 inches high, much-branched. Leaves oval, obtuse, entire, on short 



petioles, blade hoary- 

 pubescent, pale-green. 

 Flowers small, white or 

 pinkish, in crowded, 

 roundish, compact, ter- 

 minal spikes, bracts 

 numerous and large ; 

 calyx tubular, .5- 

 toothed, teeth sharp ; 

 corolla funnel-shaped, 

 2-lipped, upper one 

 erect and rounded, 

 lower one cut into 3- 

 pointed segments. 

 Leases and flowers pos- 

 sess a pleasant aro- 

 matic odor. July to 

 August. 



These two species are 

 the only ones whose 

 medicinal or commer- 

 cial value is of any im- 

 portance. 



Geography. — The 

 geographical range of these two species is wide ; they grow well all through 

 the Levant and Mediterranean countries, and all over Europe as far north as 

 the 50th parallel. 



Etijmologji. — Orifjanum, the generic name, is from the Greek words upos, 

 " an elevation " or " hill," and yavos, " beauty," hence the beauty of the hills. 

 VuJqare is Latin for " common." Marjorana is supposed to be from the low 

 Latin name, viajorica. Marjoram, the common name, is a corruption of the 

 Latin major ica. 



History. — The Origanum was well known to the Greek and Romans, and 

 was a favorite decorative plant at their marriage feasts, Avhen it was woven 

 into wreaths to crown the young married couple. It is mentioned by Pliny 

 and Vergil. It was brought to North America by European colonists, and 

 is a native of Europe and adjacent parts of Asia. 



Use. — As a medicine it is stimulant, carminative, tonic, and sudorific, and 

 it is prescribed for dyspepsia and other disorders of the stomach. 



The Thompsonian practitioners use the dried leaves for snuff in cephalic 



Origanum vulgare (Common Marjoram). 



