Hyssop | |
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Herb Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis | |
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Genus: | Hyssopus L. |
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Hyssop (Hyssopus) is a genus of about 10–12 species of herbaceous or semi-woody plants in the family Lamiaceae. They are native to the east Mediterranean to central Asia.
They are aromatic, with upright branched stems up to 60 cm long covered with fine hairs at the tips. The small blue flowers are on the upper part of the branches during summer. By far the best-known species is the herb hyssop (H. officinalis). It is widely grown outside its native area in the Mediterranean.
The anise hyssop, Agastache foeniculum (also called blue giant hyssop) is a very different plant and not a close relative, although both are in the mint family. Anise hyssop is native to much of north-central and northern North America.
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