Melissa officinalis, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 162

1. M. officinalis L. , Sp. Pl. 592 (1753).

Stems 20-150 cm, erect, branched, shortly glandular-puberulent, and with sparse or dense, long, patent, eglandular hairs, or glabrescent. Leaves 2-9 x 1 *5-7 cm, broadly ovate to rhombic or oblong, obtuse or acute, more or less deeply crenate except at the base. Floral leaves crenate-serrate. Verticillasters 4- to 12-flowered. Bracteoles 2-5 mm, ovate to linear, entire. Calyx 7-9 mm, with long, patent, eglandular and short glandular hairs; teeth of lower lip lanceolate-triangular. Corolla 8-15 mm, pale yellow, becoming white or pinkish. Nutlets 1 *5-2 mm. Scrub and other shady places. S. Europe; widely cultivated for its aromatic foliage and naturalized northwards to England, Sweden and C. Russia.?A1 BI Bu Co Cr Ga Gr Hs It Ju Rm Sa Si [Au Az Be Br Cz Da Ge Hb He Lu Po Rs (W, K, E) Su?Tu].