Oregano (US: , UK: ; Origanum vulgare), sometimes called wild marjoram, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region but widely naturalised elsewhere in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, particularly the United States and Mexico.
Oregano is a woody perennial plant, growing up to 90 cm (35 in) tall, with opposite leaves 1–4 cm (0.5–1.5 in) long covered with trichome. Young stems are typically square and hairy and become woody with age. The flowers, which can be white, pink or light purple, are 3–4 mm (0.12–0.18 in) long and produced in clustered, erect spikes in summer.
Along with its close relative O. majorana (sweet marjoram), oregano is widely used as a culinary herb. Although once used in folk medicine, there is no clinical evidence that oregano provides any health or anti-disease effects. Oregano is also an ornamental plant, with numerous cultivars bred for varying leaf colour, flower colour and habit.
Etymology
The English word "oregano" is a borrowing of the Spanish orégano, which derives from the Latin orīganum, which itself comes from Classical Greek ὀρίγανον (orī́ganon). The ultimate origin is disputed; some claim it is a compound Greek term that consists of ὄρος (óros) meaning "mountain", and γάνος (gános) meaning "joy" while The Oxford English Dictionary states it is "probably a loanword the plant comes from Africa".
