Hyssopus
officinalis (L.) Pers.
Standardized Common
Name: Hyssop
Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae)
Taxonomy: Hyssopus
comprises five Eurasian species; H. officinalis is the only species
native to Europe. It is rather variable and four subspecies, which have a
variety of species-level synonyms, are recognized. Of these, the most widely
distributed and most usually found in commerce is subsp. officinalis,
followed probably by subsp. aristatus (Godron) Briq.
Description: Perennial herb.
Stems 20–60 cm high, erect, quadrangular, woody at base, with long wand-like
branches, nearly glabrous to pubescent with long soft hairs. Leaves opposite,
sessile, linear to lanceolate, oblong or elliptical, 1–2.5(–5) cm long,
1–6(–10) mm broad; apex obtuse to broadly acute, base attenuate, margins
entire; upper surface bearing round glandular dots; lower surface with
prominent midrib, dotted with glands, glabrate to pubescent with long soft
hairs, especially on margins and midrib. Inflorescences verticillate, mostly
forming terminal spikes. Bracts narrowly lanceolate, acute, to 4 mm long,
sometimes awned. Calyx tubular; tube 3–5 mm long, pinkish brown, 15-nerved,
glabrous to shortly pubescent; teeth 5, triangular to lanceolate, 1–3 mm long,
usually with an apical awn, otherwise acute. Corolla purplish-blue or rarely
white, bilabiate, (7–)10–12 mm long, somewhat pubescent; upper lip erect,
usually emarginate; lower lip spreading, 3-lobed, with middle lobe largest,
emarginate. Stamens 4, protruding from corolla and spreading. Style gynobasic.
Fruit 4 nutlets, about 2 mm long.
Parts
in Commerce:
Leaves and flowers
Identification:
Leaves
- Linear to
lanceolate or narrowly elliptical; 1–2.5(–5) cm long
- Base tapering,
without petiole
- Apex obtuse to
broadly acute
- Margins entire
- Midrib prominent
on underside
- Conspicuously
glandular-dotted
- Surfaces of
dried leaves often appear wrinkled with short ridges and grooves
connecting the recessed glands
- Odor and taste
strongly aromatic
Flowers
- Calyx tubular,
with 5 equal teeth; tube regular to slightly curved, 3–5 mm long,
15-nerved, with short soft hairs
- Calyx teeth
(1–)2–3 mm long, lanceolate or triangular, awned or acute
- Corolla purplish
blue, (7–)10–12 mm long, bilabiate, with short soft hairs especially near
mouth
- Stamens 4,
protruding; anthers and upper filaments purplish
Reference:
DeFilipps RA. Hyssopus. In: Tutin TG, Heywood VH, Burges NA, et al.,
eds. Flora Europaea. Vol. 3. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press; 1972:170–171.
Figure 34: Hyssopus officinalis flower.
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