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Origanum vulgare L.
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Herbs perennial, mostly shiny golden glandular. Stems erect or ascending, ca. 12 cm, much branched, terete, red and purplish, sparsely floccose-puberulent. Petiole 2-3 mm; leaf blade ovate, ca. 7 × 5 mm, adaxially slightly scabrid, base subcuneate, apex slightly obtuse. Verticillasters few flowered, in upper axils; bracts leaflike; bracteoles absent. Pedicel less than 1 mm. Calyx tubular-funnelform, 2.5-3 × 1 mm, purplish, puberulent, throat white villous; teeth ovate-triangular, ca. 1 mm, apex subacute. Corolla gray-violet, 5-7 mm, pubescent; upper lip ovate, ca. 2.5 mm in diam.; lower lip lobes subcircular, ca. 1.5 mm in diam. Nutlets ellipsoid-oblong, less than 0.5 mm, smooth (specimens not seen).
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Oregano (US /ɔːˈrɛɡənoʊ/ or /əˈrɛɡənoʊ/;[1]UK /ˌɒrɪˈɡɑːnoʊ/;[2] scientific name Origanum vulgare) is a common species of Origanum, a genus of the mint family (Lamiaceae). It is native to warm-temperate western and southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean region.
Oregano is a perennial herb, growing from 20–80 cm tall, with opposite leaves 1–4 cm long. Oregano will grow in a pH range between 6.0 (mildly acidic) and 9.0 (strongly alkaline) with a preferred range between 6.0 and 8.0. The flowers are purple, 3–4 mm long, produced in erect spikes. It is sometimes called wild marjoram, and its close relative O. majorana is known as sweet marjoram.
Contents
§Description and biology[edit]
Oregano is related to the herb marjoram, sometimes being referred to as wild marjoram. Oregano has purple flowers and spade-shaped, olive-green leaves. It is a perennial,[3][4] although it is grown as an annual in colder climates, as it often does not survive the winter months.[5][6] Oregano is planted in early spring, the plants being spaced 30 cm (12 in) apart in fairly dry soil, with full sun. It prefers a hot, relatively dry climate, but will do well in other environments.[citation needed]
§Taxonomy[edit]
Many subspecies and strains of oregano have been developed by humans over centuries for their unique flavors or other characteristics. Tastes range from spicy or astringent to more complicated and sweet. Simple oregano sold in garden stores as Origanum vulgare may have a bland taste and larger, less dense leaves, and is not considered the best for culinary uses, with a taste less remarkable and pungent. It can pollinate other more sophisticated strains, but the offspring are rarely better in quality.
The related species, Origanum onites (Greece, Turkey) and O. syriacum (West Asia), have similar flavors. A closely related plant is marjoram from Turkey, which, however, differs significantly in taste, because phenolic compounds are missing from its essential oil. Some varieties show a flavor intermediate between oregano and marjoram.
§Subspecies[edit]
Accepted subspecies:[7]
- Origanum vulgare subsp. glandulosum (Desf.) Ietsw. - Tunisia, Algeria
- Origanum vulgare subsp. gracile (K.Koch) Ietsw. (= O. tyttanthum) has glossy green leaves and pink flowers. It grows well in pots or containers, and is more often grown for added ornamental value than other oregano. The flavor is pungent and spicy.[8] - Central Asia, Iran, India, Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan.
- Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum (Link) Ietsw. - (Italian oregano, Greek oregano) is a common source of cultivars with a different aroma[8] from those of O. v. gracile. Growth is vigorous and very hardy, with darker green, slightly hairy foliage. Generally, it is considered the best all-purpose culinary subspecies. - Greece, Balkans, Turkey, Cyprus
- Origanum vulgare subsp. virens (Hoffmanns. & Link) Ietsw. - Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira
- Origanum vulgare subsp. viridulum (Martrin-Donos) Nyman - widespread from Corsica to Nepal
- Origanum vulgare subsp. vulgare - widespread across Europe + Asia from Germany to China; naturalized in North America + Venezuela
§Cultivars[edit]
Example cultivars are:
- 'Aureum' – Golden foliage (greener if grown in shade), mild taste. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[9]
- 'Greek Kaliteri' – O. v. hirtum strains/landraces, small, hardy, dark, compact, thick, silvery-haired leaves, usually with purple undersides, excellent reputation for flavor and pungency, as well as medicinal uses, strong, archetypal oregano flavor (Greek kaliteri: the best).
- 'Hot & Spicy' – O. v. hirtum strain
- 'Nana' – dwarf cultivar
Cultivars traded as Italian, Sicilian, etc. are usually hardy sweet marjoram (O. ×majoricum), a hybrid between the southern Adriatic O. v. hirtum and sweet marjoram (O. majorana). They have a reputation for sweet and spicy tones, with little bitterness, and are prized for their flavor and compatibility with various recipes and sauces.
§Uses[edit]
§Culinary[edit]
Oregano is an important culinary herb, used for the flavour of its leaves, which can be more flavourful when dried than fresh.[10] It has an aromatic, warm and slightly bitter taste, which can vary in intensity. Good quality oregano may be strong enough almost to numb the tongue, but the cultivars adapted to colder climates often have a lesser flavor. Factors such as climate, seasons and soil composition may affect the aromatic oils present, and this effect may be greater than the differences between the various species of plants. Among the chemical compounds contributing to the flavour are carvacrol, thymol, limonene, pinene, ocimene, and caryophyllene.[11]
Oregano's most prominent modern use is as the staple herb of Italian-American cuisine. Its popularity in the US began when soldiers returning from World War II brought back with them a taste for the “pizza herb”,[12] which had probably been eaten in southern Italy for centuries. There, it is most frequently used with roasted, fried or grilled vegetables, meat and fish. Unlike most Italian herbs,[citation needed] oregano combines well with spicy foods, which are popular in southern Italy. It is less commonly used in the north of the country, as marjoram generally is preferred.
The herb is also widely used in Turkish, Palestinian, Lebanese, Egyptian, Syrian, Greek, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, Philippine and Latin American cuisines.
In Turkish cuisine, oregano is mostly used for flavoring meat, especially for mutton and lamb. In barbecue and kebab restaurants, it can be usually found on table, together with paprika, salt and pepper.
The dried and ground leaves are most often used in Greece to add flavor to Greek salad, and is usually added to the lemon-olive oil sauce that accompanies many fish or meat barbecues and some casseroles.
Oregano is also used by chefs in the southern Philippines to eliminate the odor of carabao or water buffalo when boiling it, while simultaneously imparting flavor.
§Phytochemicals and folk medicine[edit]
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This section requires expansion with: Additional medicinal uses with WP:MEDRS citations. (November 2010) |
In the myths of folk medicine, Hippocrates used oregano as an antiseptic, as well as a cure for stomach and respiratory ailments. A Cretan oregano (O. dictamnus) is still used today in Greece as a palliative for sore throat.[12]
Oregano contains polyphenols, including numerous flavones.[13][14]
In Austrian folk medicine, oregano was used internally (as tea) or externally (as ointment) for treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, and nervous system.[15]
In 2005, the US Federal Trade Commission brought legal action against a firm that had claimed oil of oregano treated colds and flu, and that oil of oregano taken orally treated and relieved bacterial and viral infections and their symptoms,[16] saying the representations were false or were not substantiated at the time the representations were made, and that they were therefore a deceptive practice and false advertisements.[17] The final stipulation on the matter said no representation as to any health benefit could be made without "…competent and reliable scientific evidence…".[18]
§Chemical components[edit]
The essential oil of oregano is composed primarily of monoterpenoids and monoterpenes, however the concentrations of the specific compounds vary widely depending on geographic location and other varying factors. Over 60 different compounds have been identified with the primarily ones being carvacrol and thymol ranging from 0 over 80% while lesser abundant compounds include p-cymene, γ-terpinene, caryophyllene, spathulenol, germacrene-D, β-fenchyl alcohol and δ-terpineol.[19]
Drying of the plant material affects both quantity and distribution of volatile compounds, with methods using higher heat and longer drying times having greater negative impact. A sample of fresh whole plant material found to contain 33g/kg dry weight (3.1g/kg wet) decreased to below a third after warm air convection drying. Much higher concentrations of volatile compounds are found to be towards the end of the growing season.[20]
§Other plants called "oregano"[edit]
- Cuban oregano or oregano poleo (Plectranthus amboinicus, formerly Coleus aromaticus), also of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Sometimes also called "Mexican mint or Mexican thyme", it has large and somewhat succulent leaves. Not just a Latin American plant, it's also grown and used throughout the tropics, including Africa and Southeast Asia.
- Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) is not of the mint, but of the closely related vervain family (Verbenaceae), including, e.g. the lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora). It is a highly studied herb that is said to be of some medical use and is common in curandera (female shamanic practices) in Mexico and the Southwestern United States. The flavor of Mexican oregano has a stronger savory component instead of the piney hint of rosemary flavor in oregano, and its citrus accent might be more aromatic than in oregano. It is becoming more commonly sold outside of Mexico, especially in the United States, where it is an important source of dried oregano. It is sometimes used as a substitute for epazote leaves; this substitution would not work the other way round. Epazote has a lighter, and even more savory flavor and citrus accent than Mexican oregano, and of course, a very strong sweet tarragon-like flavor which might be its strongest component. When Mexican oregano is substituted for epazote, the base flavor less the tarragon-like sweetness is provided, and other corrections to the recipe may cover for the missing tarragon component of epazote, or the dish may be served without that flavor component. If epazote were substituted for Mexican oregano, many dishes would be overpowered by the tarragon accent.
- Poliomintha longiflora is also occasionally called orégano in America.
§Etymology[edit]
Oregano is the anglicised form of the Italian word origano, or possibly of the medieval Latin organum; this latter is used in at least one Old English work. Both were drawn from the Classical Latin term origanum, which probably referred specifically to sweet marjoram, and was itself a derivation from the Greek ὀρίγανον (origanon), which simply referred to "an acrid herb".[21][22] The etymology of the Greek term is often given as oros ὄρος "mountain" + the verb ganousthai γανοῦσθαι "delight in", but the Oxford English Dictionary notes it is quite likely a loanword from an unknown North African language.[23]
§See also[edit]
§References[edit]
- ^ "American: Oregano". Collins Dictionary. n.d. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ^ "British: Oregano". Collins Dictionary. n.d. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
- ^ "Origanum vulgare L. oregano". Plants Database, United States Department of Agriculture, http://plants.usda.gov/. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
- ^ "Growing Culinary Herbs In Ontario". Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
- ^ Peter, K. V. (2004). "14.3.1 Growth habit of wild oregano populations". Handbook of herbs and spices. Volume 2. Abington Hall, Abington: Woodhead Publishing Limited. p. 219. ISBN 1-85573-721-3. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
- ^ "Herbs". Government of Saskatchewan, http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca. September 2009. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
- ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant families
- ^ a b Organic Gardening
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Origanum vulgare 'Aureum'". Retrieved 25 May 2013.
- ^ http://gernot-katzers-spice-pages.com/engl/Orig_vul.html. Oregano leaves are more flavorful when dried
- ^ The essential oil of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. vulgare growing wild in vilnius district (Lithuania) Phytochemistry. 2001 May;57(1):65-9.
- ^ a b Epikouria Magazine, Fall/Spring 2007
- ^ Dragland, Steinar; et al. (1 May 2003). "Several culinary and medicinal herbs are important sources of dietary antioxidants". J Nutr. 133 (5): 1286–1290. PMID 12730411.
- ^ Tair A et al. (2014). "Origanum species native to the island of Crete: in vitro antioxidant characteristics and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry identification of major polyphenolic components". Nat Prod Res 28 (16): 1284–7. doi:10.1080/14786419.2014.896011. PMID 24635145.
- ^ Vogl S, Picker P, Mihaly-Bison J, Fakhrudin N, Atanasov AG, Heiss EH, Wawrosch C, Reznicek G, Dirsch VM, Saukel J, Kopp B. Ethnopharmacological in vitro studies on Austria's folk medicine - An unexplored lore in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of 71 Austrian traditional herbal drugs. J Ethnopharmacol.2013 Jun13. doi:pii: S0378-8741(13)00410-8. 10.1016/j.jep.2013.06.007. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID 23770053. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23770053
- ^ Barrett, Stephen (13 June 2005). "Regulatory Actions against Michael Teplitsky, M.D.". Quackwatch. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
- ^ "Complaint for permanent injunction and other equitable relief" (PDF). FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. Plaintiff, v GREAT AMERICAN PRODUCTS, INC., PHYSICIAN'S CHOICE, INC., STEPHAN KARIAN, and MICHAEL TEPLITSKY, M.D., a/k/a MICHAEL TEPLISKY, M.D., Defendants; United States District Court, Northern District of Florida, Civil Action No. 3:05-CV-00170-RV-MD. United States Federal Trade Commission. 10 May 2005. pp. 32–33. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
- ^ "Stipulated final order for permanent injunction and settlement of claims for monetary relief" (PDF). FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION. Plaintiff, v GREAT AMERICAN PRODUCTS, INC., PHYSICIAN'S CHOICE, INC., STEPHAN KARIAN, and MICHAEL TEPLITSKY, M.D., a/k/a MICHAEL TEPLISKY, M.D., Defendants; United States District Court, Northern District of Florida, Civil Action No. 3:05-CV-00170-RV-MD. United States Federal Trade Commission. 20 May 2005. p. 10. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
- ^ Teixeira, Bárbara (2013). "Chemical composition and bioactivity of different oregano (Origanum vulgare) extracts and essential oil". J Sci Food Agric (Portugal) 93 (11): 2707–2714. doi:10.1002/jsfa.6089.
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(help) - ^ Figiel, Adam (2010). "Composition of oregano essential oil (Origanum vulgare) as affected by drying method". Journal of Food Engineering 98 (2): 240–247. doi:10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2010.01.002.
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(help) - ^ ὀρίγανον, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus
- ^ origanum, on Oxford Dictionaries
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary Online. Draft revision for "oregano", June 2008; draft revision for "origanum", March 2009; draft revision for "organum", June 2008
§External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Origanum vulgare. |
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Wikiquote has quotations related to: Oregano |
- Flora Europaea: Origanum vulgare
- Germplasm Resources Information Network: Origanum vulgare
- Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages: Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.)
- Inhibition of enteric parasites by emulsified oil of oregano
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600-4000 m
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Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=110&taxon_id=200019922 |
A little known species described from a cultivated plant.
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Rhizomes oblique, ± woody. Stems erect or prostrate near base, 25-60 cm, purplish, retrorse pubescent or slightly floccose-pubescent, numerous, leafless near base, lower branches sterile. Petiole 2-7 mm; leaf blade ovate to oblong-ovate, 1-4 × 0.4-1.5 cm, glandular, adaxially shiny green tinged purple, sparsely villous, abaxially densely villous, base broadly cuneate to rounded, margin entire or remotely serrulate, apex obtuse to slightly obtuse. Spikes oblong, ± elongated in fruit; floral leaves mostly sessile, purplish; bracts green or purple, oblong-obovate to obovate or oblanceolate, ca. 5 mm, margin entire, apex acute. Calyx ca. 3 mm, minutely hispid or subglabrous; teeth triangular, ca. 0.5 mm. Corolla purple-red to white, tubular-campanulate, 5-7 mm; tube ca. 5 mm, exserted in bisexual flowers, ca. 3 mm, included in pistillate flowers, sparsely pubescent; upper lip ovate, ca. 1.5 mm, apex 2-lobed; lower lip ca. 2 mm, lobes oblong-ovate. Nutlets brown, ca. 0.6 mm, apex rounded. Fl. Jul-Sep, fr. Oct-Dec.
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A polymorphic species; used medicinally.
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Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200019922 |
Origanum creticum Loureiro; O. normale D. Don; O. vulgare var. formosanum Hayata.
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Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200019922 |
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Source | http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0147200 |
Hills, grasslands, forests; 500-3600 m.
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* Taiwan
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