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Majorana hortensis

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A small, erect, much-branched herb reaching a height of 25-50 cm. Young shoots are greyish-green, and hairy, older parts of the stem are balding, and reddish-brown. The flowers are small, white or greenish-pink. USES The leaves are used to flavor meat dishes and as a herb tea. Oil can be extracted from the leaves and used as a flavoring, it has medicinal properties and is also used in cosmetics and scented articles. The plant is grown as an ornamental. KILLING T Young plants may tolerate -2°C temporarily. GROWING PERIOD Annual or perennial growing for 4-5 years but in northern Europe often renewed annually. COMMON NAMES Sweet majoram, Majoram, Knotted majoram. FURTHER INF Scientific synonym: Origanum majorana. Sweet majoram is native of North Africa, eastern India and the eastern coastal regions of the Mediterranean. The drug yield of marjoram is highest when the water content is 60% of the water-holding capacity of the soil. Cool, cloudy weather just prior to budding results in smaller yield and lower essential oil content. Average yield is 1.5-1.8 t/ha of dry, shelled drug.
Sources
SOURCES (M. hortensis (Mînch)) Prakash V 1990 pp 43-48 [USE] Roecklein J 1987 pp 404 [USE, DRA, FER, LIG] Duke J 1975 pp 20 [PH, RAIN, TEMP] Hornok L 1992 pp 213-218 [USE, LIG, TEMP, KTMP, DEP, RAIN, TEXT] Small E 1994 (pers. comm.) Tindall H 1983 pp 248 [USE]