''Hedeoma patens'' (Spanish common name, , 'small oregano') is a small herb in the genus ''
Hedeoma
''Hedeoma'' is a genus of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to North and South America. They are commonly known as false pennyroyals.
The genus name is derived from the Greek words ἡδύς (''hedys''), meaning "swee ...
'', family
Lamiaceae
The Lamiaceae ( )
or Labiatae are a family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory ...
. It is native to the Mexican states of
Chihuahua and
Coahuila
Coahuila (), formally Coahuila de Zaragoza (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza), is one of the 32 states of Mexico.
Coahuila borders the Mexican states of N ...
.
It is not very closely related to true
oregano
Oregano (, ; ''Origanum vulgare'') is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae. It was native to the Mediterranean region, but widely naturalised elsewhere in the temperate Northern Hemisphere.
Oregano is a woody perennial pla ...
.
Uses
The plant is highly aromatic. It is used by natives of northwestern Mexico to flavor various food items, especially beans.
See also
*''
Lippia graveolens
''Lippia graveolens'', a species of flowering plant in the verbena or vervain family, Verbenaceae, is native to the southwestern United States (Texas and southern New Mexico), Mexico, and Central America as far south as Nicaragua. Common names i ...
'', Mexican oregano or ('wild oregano')
* ''
Coleus amboinicus
''Coleus amboinicus'', synonym ''Plectranthus amboinicus'', is a semi-succulent perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae with a pungent oregano-like flavor and odor. ''Coleus amboinicus'' is considered to be native to parts of Africa, the Arabian ...
'', known as Cuban oregano, ('
pennyroyal oregano'), ('French oregano'), Mexican mint, Mexican thyme, and many other names. Common throughout the tropics, including Latin America, but probably of eastern-hemisphere origin.
References
patens
Flora of Northeastern Mexico
Plants described in 1908
{{Lamiaceae-stub