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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Oregano
| image = ChristianBauer flowering oregano.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Flowering oregano
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Lamiaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Origanum]]''
| species = '''''O. vulgare'''''
| binomial = ''Origanum vulgare''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
'''Oregano''' or '''Pot Marjoram''' (''Origanum vulgare'') is a species of ''[[Origanum]]'', native to [[Europe]], the [[Mediterranean region]] and southern and central [[Asia]]. It is a [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[herb]], growing to 20-80 cm tall, with opposite [[leaf|leaves]] 1-4 cm long. The [[flower]]s are purple, 3-4 mm long, produced in erect spikes. Its name derives from the Greek ''origanon'' [ὀρίγανον]: oros [ὄρος] “mountain” + the verb ''ganousthai'' [γανοῦσθαι] “delight in”.
== Cultivation and uses ==
[[Image:Oregano.jpg|left|thumb|Oregano growing in a field.]]
The subspecies of oregano ''Origanum vulgare hirtum'' is an important culinary herb. It is particularly widely used in [[Greek cuisine|Greek]] and [[Italian cuisine]]s. It is the [[leaves]] that are used in cooking, and the dried herb is often more flavourful than the fresh.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
Oregano is often used in tomato sauces, fried vegetables and grilled meat. Together with [[basil]], it contributes much to the distinctive character of many Italian dishes.
Oregano combines nicely with pickled [[olives]], [[capers]] and [[lovage]] leaves. Unlike most Italian herbs,{{Fact|date=July 2007}} oregano works with hot and spicy food, which is popular in southern Italy.
Oregano is an indispensable ingredient for [[Greek cuisine]]. Oregano adds flavour to the [[Greek salad]] and is usually used separately or added to the lemon-olive oil sauce that accompanies almost every fish or meat barbecues and some casseroles.
[[Image:Oregano_in_Pot.jpg|left|thumb|Oregano growing in a pot.]]
It has an [[aroma]]tic, warm and slightly [[Bitter (taste)|bitter]] taste. It varies in intensity; good quality is so strong that it almost numbs the tongue, but the cultivars adapted to colder climates have often unsatisfactory flavour. The influence of climate, season and soil on the composition of the essential oil is greater than the difference between the various species.
The related species ''Origanum onites'' ([[Greece]], [[Asia Minor]]) and ''O. heracleoticum'' ([[Italy]], [[Balkan peninsula]], [[West Asia]]) have similar flavours. A closely related plant is [[marjoram]] from Asia Minor, which, however, differs significantly in taste, because [[phenolic compounds]] are missing in its essential oil. Some breeds show a flavour intermediate between oregano and marjoram.
;Pizza
The dish most associated with oregano is [[pizza]]. Its relatives have probably been eaten in Southern Italy for centuries.
===Health benefits===
Oregano is high in [[antioxidant]] activity, due to a high content of [[phenol antioxidant|phenolic]] acids and [[flavonoid]]s (PMID 16218659, PMID 12730411). Additionally, oregano has demonstrated [[antimicrobial]] activity against food-borne pathogens such as ''[[Listeria monocytogenes]]'' (PMID 16218659). Both of these characteristics may be useful in both [[health]] and [[food preservation]]. In the [[Philippines]], oregano (coleus aromaticus) is not commonly used for cooking but is rather considered as a primarily medicinal plant, useful for relieving children's coughs.[[Image:OreganoDried1.JPG|thumb|Branch of dried oregano]]
== Other plants called oregano ==
'''Mexican oregano''', ''[[Lippia graveolens]]'' ([[Verbenaceae]]) is closely related to [[lemon verbena]]. It is a highly studied herb that is said to be of some medical use and is common in [[curandera]] female [[shaman]]ic practices in Mexico and the [[Southwestern United States]]. Mexican oregano has a very similar flavour to oregano, but is usually stronger. It is becoming more commonly sold outside of Mexico, especially in the United States. It is
sometimes used as a substitute for [[epazote]] leaves; this substitution would not work the other way round.
Several other plants are also known as oregano in various parts of Mexico, including ''[[Poliomintha longiflora]]'', ''[[Lippia berlandieri]]'', and ''[[Plectranthus amboinicus]]'' (syn. ''Coleus aromaticus''), also called Cuban oregano.
==See also==
*[[Za'atar]]
==References and external links==
*[http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Origanum+&SPECIES_XREF=vulgare&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= Flora Europaea: ''Origanum vulgare'']
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?25913 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Origanum vulgare'']
*[http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Orig_vul.html Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages: ''Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.)'']
{{Commons|Origanum vulgare}}
{{Herbs & spices}}
[[Category:Lamiaceae]]
[[Category:Herbs]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = Oregano
| image = ChristianBauer flowering oregano.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Flowering oregano
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Lamiaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Origanum]]''
| species = '''''O. vulgare'''''
| binomial = ''Origanum vulgare''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
'''Oregano''' or '''Pot Marjoram''' (''Origanum vulgare'') is a species of ''[[Origanum]]'', native to [[Europe]], the [[Mediterranean region]] and southern and central [[Asia]]. It is a [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[herb]], growing to 20-80 cm tall, with opposite [[leaf|leaves]] 1-4 cm long. The [[flower]]s are purple, 3-4 mm long, produced in erect spikes. Its name derives from the Greek ''origanon'' [ὀρίγανον]: oros [ὄρος] “mountain” + the verb ''ganousthai'' [γανοῦσθαι] “delight in”.
== Cultivation and uses ==
[[Image:Oregano.jpg|left|thumb|Oregano growing in a field.]]
The subspecies of oregano ''Origanum vulgare hirtum'' is an important culinary herb. It is particularly widely used in [[Greek cuisine|Greek]] and [[Italian cuisine]]s. It is the [[leaves]] that are used in cooking, and the dried herb is often more flavourful than the fresh.{{Fact|date=September 2007}}
Oregano is often used in tomato sauces, fried vegetables and grilled meat. Together with [[basil]], it contributes much to the distinctive character of many Italian dishes.
Oregano combines nicely with pickled [[olives]], [[capers]] and [[lovage]] leaves. Unlike most Italian herbs,{{Fact|date=July 2007}} oregano works with hot and spicy food, which is popular in southern Italy.
Oregano is an indispensable ingredient for [[Greek cuisine]]. Oregano adds flavour to the [[Greek salad]] and is usually used separately or added to the lemon-olive oil sauce that accompanies almost every fish or meat barbecues and some casseroles.
[[Image:Oregano_in_Pot.jpg|left|thumb|Oregano growing in a pot.]]
It has an [[aroma]]tic, warm and slightly [[Bitter (taste)|bitter]] taste. It varies in intensity; good quality is so strong that it almost numbs the tongue, but the cultivars adapted to colder climates have often unsatisfactory flavour. The influence of climate, season and soil on the composition of the essential oil is greater than the difference between the various species.
The related species ''Origanum onites'' ([[Greece]], [[Asia Minor]]) and ''O. heracleoticum'' ([[Italy]], [[Balkan peninsula]], [[West Asia]]) have similar flavours. A closely related plant is [[marjoram]] from Asia Minor, which, however, differs significantly in taste, because [[phenolic compounds]] are missing in its essential oil. Some breeds show a flavour intermediate between oregano and marjoram.
;Pizza
The dish most associated with oregano is [[pizza]]. Its relatives have probably been eaten in Southern Italy for centuries.
===Health benefits===
Oregano is high in [[antioxidant]] activity, due to a high content of [[phenol antioxidant|phenolic]] acids and [[flavonoid]]s (PMID 16218659, PMID 12730411). Additionally, oregano has demonstrated [[antimicrobial]] activity against food-borne pathogens such as ''[[Listeria monocytogenes]]'' (PMID 16218659). Both of these characteristics may be useful in both [[health]] and [[food preservation]]. In the [[Philippines]], oregano (coleus aromaticus) is not commonly used for cooking but is rather considered as a primarily medicinal plant, useful for relieving children's coughs.[[Image:OreganoDried1.JPG|thumb|Branch of dried oregano]]
== Other plants called oregano ==
'''Mexican oregano''', ''[[Lippia graveolens]]'' ([[Verbenaceae]]) is closely related to [[lemon verbena]]. It is a highly studied herb that is said to be of some medical use and is common in [[curandera]] female [[shaman]]ic practices in Mexico and the [[Southwestern United States]]. Mexican oregano has a very similar flavour to oregano, but is usually stronger. It is becoming more commonly sold outside of Mexico, especially in the United States. It is
sometimes used as a substitute for [[epazote]] leaves; this substitution would not work the other way round.
Several other plants are also known as oregano in various parts of Mexico, including ''[[Poliomintha longiflora]]'', ''[[Lippia berlandieri]]'', and ''[[Plectranthus amboinicus]]'' (syn. ''Coleus aromaticus''), also called Cuban oregano.
==See also==
*[[Za'atar]]
==References and external links==
*[http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/feout?FAMILY_XREF=&GENUS_XREF=Origanum+&SPECIES_XREF=vulgare&TAXON_NAME_XREF=&RANK= Flora Europaea: ''Origanum vulgare'']
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?25913 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Origanum vulgare'']
*[http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Orig_vul.html Gernot Katzer's Spice Pages: ''Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.)'']
{{Commons|Origanum vulgare}}
{{Herbs & spices}}
[[Category:Lamiaceae]]
[[Category:Herbs]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
