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• Taxonomy
• Physical Description
• Distribution
• Growth
• Similar Species
• Bibliography
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Taxonomy

Notes:

Place of publication: Allg. med.-pharm. Fl. 3:768. 1834 (Rafinesque, Autik. bot. 119. 1840)

Name verified on 29-Mar-2005 by ARS Systematic Botanists. Last updated: 11-Feb-2007

Physical Description

Family Lamiaceae:

Herbs, sometimes subshrubs or shrubs, annual or perennial, usually aromatic. Stems and branches usually 4-angled. Leaves opposite, rarely whorled or alternate, simple to pinnately dissected or compound, without stipules. Inflorescences generally compound, sometimes flowers solitary and axillary; verticillasters 2- to many flowered, subtended by leaves or bracts. Flowers bisexual, zygomorphic, rarely subactinomorphic, bracteolate or not. Calyx persistent, 5-toothed, 2-lipped; upper lip 3-toothed or entire (deciduous in Scutellaria) ; lower lip 2- or 4-toothed; tube sometimes hairy annulate inside. Corolla limb usually 2-lipped; upper lip 2-lobed and lower 3-lobed, rarely upper lip entire and lower 4-lobed, also rarely limb (4- or) 5-lobed; tube hairy annulate inside. Stamens epipetalous, 4 or 2, free, rarely filaments connate, sometimes one staminodial; anther 1- or 2-celled, usually dehiscing longitudinally; disc persistent. Ovary superior, 2-celled and each cell 2-ovuled and style subterminal, or ovary 4-parted and each lobe 1-ovuled and style gynobasic (from bases of ovary lobes) with 2-cleft apex. Fruit usually 4 dry nutlets. Seeds with or without endosperm.

Approximately 3500 species in 220 genera, distributed worldwide, but mostly in the Mediterranean region and SW Asia. China has 807 species in 96 genera.^[1]

Habit: Evergreen.

Flowers: Bloom Period: June, July, August. • Flower Color: near white, white

Images:

Distribution

Range and Population

Native: .

Growth

Soil: Minimum pH: 6.6 • Maximum pH: 9.0

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full Sun.

Moisture: Drought Tolerance: High

Similar Species

Members of the genus Majorana:

There are approximately 30 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus: M. aegyptiaca · M. bevani · M. crassa · M. crassifolia · M. dictamnus · M. dubia · M. fragrans · M. leptoclados · M. majorica · M. maru · M. mexicana · M. micrantha · M. microphylla · M. neglecta · M. nervosa · M. orega · M. oreja · M. ovalifolia · M. ovatifolia · M. paniculata · M. scutellifolia · M. sipylea · M. smyrnaea · M. suffruticosa · M. syriaca (Syrian Marjoram) · M. tenuifolia · M. tomentosa · M. turbinata · M. uncinata · M. vulgaris

Bibliography

• Ietswaart, J. H. 1980. A taxonomic revision of the genus Origanum (Labiatae). Leiden Bot. Ser. 4:87.
• Meikle, R. D. 1977–1985. Flora of Cyprus. (F Cyprus) [lists as M. syriaca (L.) Raf.].
• Wu Cheng-yih & Li Hsi-wen, eds. 1977. Labiatae. Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 65(2): 1-649, 66: 1-647.
• Zohary, M. & N. Feinbrun-Dothan. 1966–. Flora palaestina. (F Palest) [accepts; lists as M. syriaca (L.) Raf.].

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Notes

Contributors:

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed November 3, 2006.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed March 05, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from provider.
• USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL (May 02, 2008)

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 05, 2008:

• Israel Nature and Parks Authority

Identifiers:

• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 1028093
• Globally Unique Identifier: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:449806-1
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 606756

Footnotes:

1. Xi-wen Li & Ian C. Hedge "Lamiaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 17 Page 50. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.