HOME

TheInfoList



Click Here for Items Related To - Mexican oregano
OR:
Mexican oregano on:   [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Amazon]

''Lippia graveolens'', a species of
flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
in the verbena or vervain family,
Verbenaceae The Verbenaceae ( ), the verbena family or vervain family, is a family of mainly tropical flowering plants. It contains trees, shrubs, and herbs notable for heads, spikes, or clusters of small flowers, many of which have an aromatic smell. The ...
, is native to the southwestern United States (
Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
and southern
New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
),
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
, and
Central America Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...
as far south as
Nicaragua Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Managua is the countr ...
. Common names include: Mexican oregano, redbrush lippia, ('wild oregano'), scented lippia, and scented matgrass. The specific epithet is derived from two
Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
words: , meaning 'heavy', and , meaning 'smelling'. It is a shrub or small
tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...
, reaching in height. Fragrant white or yellowish
flower A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...
s can be found on the plant throughout the year, especially after rains.


Uses

The essential oil of ''Lippia graveolens'' contains 0-81%
thymol Thymol (also known as 2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol, IPMP), , is a natural monoterpenoid phenol derivative of ''p''-Cymene, isomeric with carvacrol, found in oil of thyme, and extracted from ''Thymus vulgaris'' (common thyme), ajwain, and vari ...
, 0-48% carvacrol, 3-30% para-
cymene ''p''-Cymene is a naturally occurring aromatic organic compound. It is classified as an alkylbenzene related to a monoterpene. Its structure consists of a benzene ring ''para''-substituted with a methyl group and an isopropyl group. ''p''-Cy ...
, and 0-15%
eucalyptol Eucalyptol is a monoterpenoid. A colorless liquid, it is a bicyclic ether. Eucalyptol has a fresh mint-like smell and a spicy, cooling taste. It is insoluble in water, but miscible with organic solvents. Eucalyptol makes up ~70% - 90% of eucal ...
. The first two components give the plant a flavor similar to oregano (to which it is not closely related), and the leaves are widely used as an herb in
Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
and
Central America Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...
.


See also

* ''
Hedeoma patens ''Hedeoma patens'' (Spanish common name, , 'small oregano') is a small herb in the genus '' Hedeoma'', family Lamiaceae. It is native to the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Coahuila. It is not very closely related to true oregano. Uses The plan ...
'', Spanish common name ('small oregano'); native to the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Coahuila. * ''
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

* * graveolens Plants described in 1818 Herbs Mexican cuisine Flora of Costa Rica Flora of Guatemala Flora of Honduras Flora of Mexico Flora of New Mexico Flora of Nicaragua Flora of Texas Crops originating from Mexico {{Verbenaceae-stub