Origanum ( oh-RIG-ə-nəm) is a genus of herbaceous perennial flowering plants and subshrubs in the family Lamiaceae. They are native to Europe, North Africa, and much of temperate Asia, where they are found in open or mountainous habitats. A few species also naturalized in scattered locations in North America and other regions.
The plants have strongly aromatic leaves and abundant tubular flowers with long-lasting coloured bracts. The genus includes an important group of culinary herbs including marjoram (Origanum majorana), oregano (Origanum vulgare), and za'atar (Origanum syriacum).
With their decorative bracts, Origanum species and cultivars are used as ornamental plants in the garden. The cultivars 'Kent Beauty' and 'Rosenkuppel' have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Origanum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including Coleophora albitarsella.
Species
There are about 67 species native to Eurasia and Northern Africa.
Origanum acutidens (Hand.-Mazz.) Ietsw. – Türkiye, Iraq
Origanum × adanense Baser & H.Duman – Türkiye (O. bargyli × O. laevigatum)
Origanum × adonidis Mouterde – Lebanon (O. libanoticum × O. syriacum subsp. bevanii)
Origanum akhdarense Ietsw. & Boulos – Cyrenaica region of eastern Libya
Origanum amanum Post – Hatay region of Türkiye
Origanum × barbarae Bornm. – Lebanon (O. ehrenbergii × O. syriacum subsp. bevanii)
Origanum bargyli Mouterde – Türkiye, Syria
Origanum bilgeri P.H.Davis – Antalya region of Türkiye
Origanum boissieri Ietsw. – Türkiye
Origanum calcaratum Juss. – Greece
Origanum compactum Benth. – Spain, Morocco
Origanum cordifolium (Montbret & Aucher ex Benth.) Vogel – Cyprus
Origanum cyrenaicum Bég. & Vacc. – Cyrenaica region of eastern Libya
Origanum dayi Post – West Bank, Palestine
Origanum dictamnus L. (hop marjoram, Cretan dittany, dittany of Crete)...
