Origanum vulgare L.

Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Xinjiang, Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia; Africa, Europe, introduced in North America]

The genus Origanum includes two economically significant aromatic species, Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana), which is native to Cyprus and southern Turkey but widely introduced across the Mediterranean region, and the widely distributed Oregano (Origanum vulgare). The aromatic quality of Marjoram is present in just a single species in the genus. In contrast, oregano-like qualities may be found in a number of Origanum species, but the widespread O. vulgare is the main species of economic importance.

According to recent taxonomic treatments (Ietswaart 1980, as cited in Kokkini 1997), O. vulgare is represented by six subspecies collectively distributed widely across Eurasia and North Africa. It has also been introduced by humans to North America. Oregano contains an essential oil with characteristic monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes that account for its aromatic qualities. The three subspecies with a more northerly distribution are less rich in essential oils than are the the three more southerly distributed subspecies.

Oregano was used by the Ancient Greeks and Romans. It is a familiar herb used on pizza and in a range of tomato and meat dishes and salads. Mexico and Turkey are major exporters (Italy is a major producer as well, but consumes most of this production domestically) (Olivier 1997). Oregano's essential oil (which is high in carvacrol) is used in a number of foods and liqueurs.

Oregano is an erect perennial, 30 to 60 cm tall, with stalked, ovate leaves that are 1 to 4.5 cm long. The purplish flowers are borne in dense, rounded terminal panicles with purplish bracts. The flowers have a tubular 5-toothed calyx, never becoming turbinate (top-shaped) in fruit (unlike some related species). Calyx shape is important in the taxonomy of the genus Origanum. The calyx shape is highly variable between, but stable within, Origanum species and appears to be largely controlled by 5 independent genes with simple Mendelian inheritance, potentially allowing plant breeders to reliably distinguish naturally occurring hybrids rather than always having to perform painstaking hand pollinations. (Novak et al. 2002)

(Vaughan and Geissler 1997; Novak et al. 2002)

Chile Central

Chile Central