7,617
edits
Changes
From Gardenology.org - Plant Encyclopedia and Gardening Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to searchno edit summary
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Monarda didyma''
| image = Bee_balm.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Monarda didyma''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Lamiaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Monarda]]''
| species = '''''M. didyma'''''
| binomial = ''Monarda didyma''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| range_map = Monarda didyma in the USA.svg
| range_map_width = 240px
| range_map_caption = U.S. distribution of ''Monarda didyma''
}}
''Monarda didyma'' ('''Bergamot''', '''Scarlet Beebalm''', '''Scarlet Monarda''', '''Oswego Tea''', or '''Crimson Beebalm''') is an aromatic [[herb]] in the family [[Lamiaceae]], native to eastern [[North America]] from [[Maine]] west to [[Ohio]] and south to northern [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. Its name is derived from its odor which is considered similar to that of the [[bergamot orange]]. The [[binomial nomenclature|scientific name]] comes from [[Nicolas Monardes]], who described the first American flora in [[1569]].
===Description===
This hardy [[perennial plant]] grows to 0.7-1.5 m in height, with the stems square in cross-section. The [[Leaf|leaves]] are opposite on the square stems, 6-15 cm long and 3-8 cm broad, and dark green with reddish leaf veins and a coarsely-toothed margin; they are glaborous or sparsely pubescent above with spreading hairs below. It has ragged, bright red tubular [[flower]]s 3-4 cm long, borne on showy heads of about 30 together, with reddish bracts. It grows in dense clusters along stream banks, thickets and ditches, flowering from July to late August.
===Cultivation and uses===
Bergamot is extensively grown as an [[ornamental plant]] both within and outside its native range; it is [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalized]] further west in the [[United States]] and also in parts of [[Europe]] and [[Asia]]. It grows best in full sun, but tolerates light shade and will thrive in any moist soil that is well-drained. Several [[cultivar]]s have been selected for different flower color, ranging from white through pink to dark red and purple.
The name ''Oswego Tea'' comes from the [[Iroquois|Oswego]] Indians who taught the immigrants how to use it for [[tea]] after the [[Boston tea party]] in [[1773]]. The flowers and leaves are good ingredients for [[potpourri]] making.
Note that the bergamot herb is ''not'' the source of bergamot oil, used to flavor [[Earl Grey tea]]; that comes from the [[bergamot orange]], a [[Mediterranean]] [[citrus]] [[fruit]].
==References==
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?24535 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Monarda didyma'']
*[http://www.missouriplants.com/Redopp/Monarda_didyma_page.html Missouri Plants: ''Monarda didyma'']
*[http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_oswego_tea.htm Oswego tea]
* {{cite book | author=[[Neltje Blanchan|Blanchan, Neltje]] | title=[[Wild Flowers Worth Knowing]] | year=[[2005]] | publisher=[[Project Gutenberg|Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation]]}}
* {{cite book | author=[[Alfred Pink|Pink, A.]] | title=[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/11892 Gardening for the Million.] | year=[[2004]] | publisher=[[Project Gutenberg|Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation]]}}
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MODI USDA Plants Profile: ''Monarda didyma'']
{{wikiversity-bc|Monarda didyma}}
[[Category:Lamiaceae]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Wildflowers of the Great Smoky Mountains]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Monarda didyma''
| image = Bee_balm.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Monarda didyma''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Lamiaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Monarda]]''
| species = '''''M. didyma'''''
| binomial = ''Monarda didyma''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| range_map = Monarda didyma in the USA.svg
| range_map_width = 240px
| range_map_caption = U.S. distribution of ''Monarda didyma''
}}
''Monarda didyma'' ('''Bergamot''', '''Scarlet Beebalm''', '''Scarlet Monarda''', '''Oswego Tea''', or '''Crimson Beebalm''') is an aromatic [[herb]] in the family [[Lamiaceae]], native to eastern [[North America]] from [[Maine]] west to [[Ohio]] and south to northern [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. Its name is derived from its odor which is considered similar to that of the [[bergamot orange]]. The [[binomial nomenclature|scientific name]] comes from [[Nicolas Monardes]], who described the first American flora in [[1569]].
===Description===
This hardy [[perennial plant]] grows to 0.7-1.5 m in height, with the stems square in cross-section. The [[Leaf|leaves]] are opposite on the square stems, 6-15 cm long and 3-8 cm broad, and dark green with reddish leaf veins and a coarsely-toothed margin; they are glaborous or sparsely pubescent above with spreading hairs below. It has ragged, bright red tubular [[flower]]s 3-4 cm long, borne on showy heads of about 30 together, with reddish bracts. It grows in dense clusters along stream banks, thickets and ditches, flowering from July to late August.
===Cultivation and uses===
Bergamot is extensively grown as an [[ornamental plant]] both within and outside its native range; it is [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalized]] further west in the [[United States]] and also in parts of [[Europe]] and [[Asia]]. It grows best in full sun, but tolerates light shade and will thrive in any moist soil that is well-drained. Several [[cultivar]]s have been selected for different flower color, ranging from white through pink to dark red and purple.
The name ''Oswego Tea'' comes from the [[Iroquois|Oswego]] Indians who taught the immigrants how to use it for [[tea]] after the [[Boston tea party]] in [[1773]]. The flowers and leaves are good ingredients for [[potpourri]] making.
Note that the bergamot herb is ''not'' the source of bergamot oil, used to flavor [[Earl Grey tea]]; that comes from the [[bergamot orange]], a [[Mediterranean]] [[citrus]] [[fruit]].
==References==
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?24535 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Monarda didyma'']
*[http://www.missouriplants.com/Redopp/Monarda_didyma_page.html Missouri Plants: ''Monarda didyma'']
*[http://www.herbs2000.com/herbs/herbs_oswego_tea.htm Oswego tea]
* {{cite book | author=[[Neltje Blanchan|Blanchan, Neltje]] | title=[[Wild Flowers Worth Knowing]] | year=[[2005]] | publisher=[[Project Gutenberg|Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation]]}}
* {{cite book | author=[[Alfred Pink|Pink, A.]] | title=[http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/11892 Gardening for the Million.] | year=[[2004]] | publisher=[[Project Gutenberg|Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation]]}}
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MODI USDA Plants Profile: ''Monarda didyma'']
{{wikiversity-bc|Monarda didyma}}
[[Category:Lamiaceae]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Wildflowers of the Great Smoky Mountains]]
