MARJORAM (O. Fr. majorane, Med.

See also:

• LAT

Lat. majorana; not connected with

See also:

• MAJOR
• MAJOR (Lat. for " greater ")
• MAJOR (or MAIR), JOHN (1470-1550)

major, greater, nor with amaracus)  , in botany, the common name for some aromatic herbs or undershrubs, belonging to the genus Origanum (natural order Labiatae) . Wild marjoram is O. vulgare, a perennial common in England in dry copses and on hedge-banks, with many stout stems I to 3 ft. high, bearing short-stalked somewhat ovate leaves and clusters of purple flowers . Sweet or knotted marjoram, O . Marjorana, and pot marjoram, O . Onites, are cultivated for the use of their aromatic leaves, either green or dry, for culinary purposes; the tops are cut as the plants begin to flower and are dried slowly in the shade .