Botanical name:Hyssopus officinalisFamily:Lamiaceae (Mint family) Synonyms: Hyssopus vulgaris, Thymus hyssopus
Hyssop is a herbaceous plant native to Southern
Europe, the Middle East, and the region surrounding the Caspian Sea.
Hyssop is a brightly colored subshrub that is 1-2 ft tall. The stem is
woody at the base, from which grow a number of straight branches. Its
leaves are lanceshaped, dark green in colour, 2-2.5 cm long. During the
summer, the plant produces bunches of pink, blue, or, more rarely,
white fragrant flowers. Flower clusters are 3-7-flowered, forming
spike-like inflorescence. Flowers are short-stalked, bluish to purple,
nearly 1 cm long, upper lip 2-lobed, lowers 3-lobed, stamens distinctly
protruding. These give rise to small oblong achenes. The plant is
commonly used by beekeepers to produce a rich and aromatic honey. Herb
hyssop leaves are used as an aromatic condiment.
Medicinal uses:
As a medicinal herb, hyssop has soothing, expectorant, and cough
suppressant properties. The plant also includes the chemicals thujone
and phenol, which give it antiseptic properties.
Identification credit: Gurcharan Singh
Photographed in Kashmir.
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The flower labeled Hyssop is ...