Origanum vulgare L.

Rhizomatous perennial with hairy, usually branched, purplish stems c. 60 cm tall. Lvs shortly petiolate, 1.2–3 × 0.6–1.8 cm, ovate, or rhombic to suborbicular, entire or obscurely serrulate, ciliate, hairy and dotted with glands below, often becoming glabrous above. Infls dense, corymbose or paniculate, terminal and axillary; bracts 3–5 mm long, ovate, glabrous, often purple. Calyx c. 2.5 mm long, often purple, hairy outside, and with a prominent, long, white, pilose tuft in throat; teeth 0.5–1 mm long, almost regular, triangular. Corolla 4–7 mm long, pink or purplish, hairy outside; tube > calyx; limb 4–6 mm diam.; upper lip emarginate. Stamens exserted, lacking in the occasional ♀ plants. Nutlets 8–9 mm long.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Dec.–Mar.