Herbario Virtual del Mediterráneo Occidental
Àrea de Botànica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears
Melissa officinalis L.
Family : LABIATAE (LAMIACEAE)
Genus : Melissa
Catalan common name : Abellera. Aronjina. Citronella. Melissa. Tarongina. Taronjí.
Spanish common name : Cedrón. Cidronela. limonera. Melisa. Toronjil.
General distribution : Eurosiberian (Submediterranean)
Flowering time : June. July. August. September.
Life-forms : Hemicryptophyte.
Habitat : Gardens.
Uses and properties : Edible or foodstuffs. Medicinal. Perfumery.
Characteristics : A perennial herb with crawling stems that have the ability to root and erect stems (up to 80 cm.), square and covered with hairs. The leaves are opposite, very pilose and with serrate margin. The flowers are white, axillary and grouped in whorlettes. If when crushes the leaf between the fingers and agreeable lemony smell is given off.
