oregano, name for several herbs used for flavoring food. A plant of the family Labiatae (
mint family),
Origanum vulgare, also called Spanish thyme and wild marjoram, is the usual source for the spice sold as oregano in the Mediterranean countries and in the United States. Its flavor is similar to that of
marjoram but slightly less sweet. In Spain and Italy many other
Origanum species are also grown as oregano. A related herb (
Coleus amboinicius) of the same family, called
suganda in its native Indomalaysia, is known as oregano in the Philippines and Mexico, where it is a popular flavoring. Several other herbs also provide spices called oregano, e.g., species of
Lippia and
Lantana of the verbena family. In all cases the flavoring is made from the dried herbage. Oregano is classified in the division
Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Lamiales, family Labiatae.
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