ORIGANUM MICROPHYLLUM

Family and Genus:- See- LABIATAE/Sect. MAJORANA

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Majorana microphylla

Meaning:- Origanum (Gr) Joy-of-the mountain. A name used by the Greek

philosopher Theophrastus for an aromatic herb.

Microphyllum (L) With small leaves.

General description:- Perennial dwarf shrub.

Stems:-

1) 20-50 cm, numerous, usually branched; branches slender, distinctly 4-angled,

purplish, retrorsely hispidulous, becoming glabrescent with maturity.

Leaves:-

1) On the main branches, 4-8 x 3-6 mm, ovate to oblong, obtuse, rounded or

subcordate at base, puberulent to whitish-tomentose, with indistinct veins.

2) Petiole, 1-1·5 mm.

Flowers:-

1) Spicules, 4-11 mm, subglobose or obconical to oblong, white-lanate, 1-3 at the

end of lateral branches, forming lax, terminal panicles.

2) Bracts, 3-4 mm, broadly spathulate, rounded.

3) Calyx, 2-2·25 mm, obliquely truncate, entire at apex, glabrous, densely ciliate at

the mouth.

4) Corolla, c. 5 mm, purple.

5) Stamens, shortly exserted.

Fruit:-

1) Nutlets x 4, 1 seeded.

Key features:-

1) Calyx. either with 5 equal teeth, or truncate and entire at the apex, or 1-lipped

and with a deep slit on one side.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Rocky limestone slopes with open dry shrubby vegetation and open

coniferous woodland. (50-) 500-1400(-1800) m.

Distribution:- Cretan endemic. Primarily from the Lefka Ori and Dikti massifs,

where it is locally common.

Flowering time:- May-July, occasionally later.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton