Lippia graveolens

"Mexican oregano" redirects here. For other uses, see Oregano § Other plants called "oregano".
Lippia graveolens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Verbenaceae
Genus: Lippia
Species: L. graveolens
Binomial name
Lippia graveolens
Kunth[1]
Synonyms

Lippia berlandieri Schauer[2]

Lippia graveolens, a species of flowering plant in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, is native to the southwestern United States (Texas and southern New Mexico), Mexico, and Central America as far south as Nicaragua.[1] Common names include Mexican oregano, redbrush lippia, orégano Cimmaron, scented lippia,[3] and scented matgrass.[4] The specific epithet is derived from two Latin words: gravis, meaning "heavy", and oleo, meaning "oil".[5] It is a shrub or small tree, reaching 1–2.7 m (3.3–8.9 ft) in height.[2] Fragrant white or yellowish flowers can be found on the plant throughout the year, especially after rains.[3]

Uses

The essential oil of Lippia graveolens contains 0-81% thymol, 0-48% carvacrol, 3-30% para-cymene, and 0-15% eucalyptol. The first two components give the plant a flavor similar to oregano,[2] and the leaves are widely used as an herb in Mexico and Central America.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "Lippia graveolens Kunth". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2002-09-13. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
  2. 1 2 3 Tucker, Arthur O.; Thomas DeBaggio (2009). The Encyclopedia of Herbs: A Comprehensive Reference to Herbs of Flavor and Fragrance (2 ed.). Timber Press. pp. 298–299. ISBN 978-0-88192-994-2.
  3. 1 2 "Red-brush, Redbrush Lippia, Oregano Cimmaron, Scented Lippia, Hierba Dulce, Romerillo de Monte, Te de Pais, Tarbay Lippia graveolens (L. berlandier)". Benny Simpson's Texas Native Shrubs. Texas A&M University. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
  4. ↑ "Lippia graveolens Kunth". ITIS Standard Reports. Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
  5. ↑ Gledhill, D. (2008). The Names of Plants (4 ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 184. ISBN 978-0-521-86645-3.
  6. ↑ Duke, James A. (2008). Duke's Handbook of Medicinal Plants of Latin America. CRC Press. pp. 414–415. ISBN 978-1-4200-4316-7.
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