''Origanum syriacum'' subsp. ''syriacum''; syn. ''Majorana syriaca'' (also ''Origanum maru'', although this primarily refers to a hybrid of ''O. syriacum''), bible hyssop,
[ Biblical-hyssop,][ Lebanese oregano][ or Syrian oregano,][ is an aromatic perennial herb in the mint family, ]Lamiaceae
The Lamiaceae ( )
or Labiatae are a family (biology), family of flowering plants commonly known as the mint, deadnettle, or sage family. Many of the plants are aromatic in all parts and include widely used culinary herbs like basil (herb), ba ...
.
It is a preferred primary ingredient in the spice mixture ''za'atar
Za'atar ( ; , ) is a versatile herb blend and family of wild herbs native to the Levant, central to Middle Eastern cuisine and culture. The term refers both to aromatic plants of the '' Origanum'' and '' Thymbra'' genera (including '' Origanum ...
''.
''O. syriacum'' is native to the Palestine region
The region of Palestine, also known as historic Palestine, is a geographical area in West Asia. It includes the modern states of Israel and Palestine, as well as parts of northwestern Jordan in some definitions. Other names for the region i ...
and was formerly used in ceremonial functions in the Temple in Jerusalem
The Temple in Jerusalem, or alternatively the Holy Temple (; , ), refers to the two religious structures that served as the central places of worship for Israelites and Jews on the modern-day Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. Accord ...
, such as for sprinkling the waters of a purification mixture made by the ashes of a burned red heifer
The red heifer () was a reddish brown Cattle, cow sacrificed by Temple priests as a ritual purification, purification ritual in biblical times.
Ritual in the Torah
The red heifer offering is described in Book of Numbers, Numbers 19. The Tora ...
on persons defiled by the dead.
Etymology
The Arabic word zaʿatar (), may refer to one of several plants, as well as the spice mixture of the same name which the plants are associated with. In many English translations of the Bible, ''ezov'' is rendered as hyssop, hence the common name for bible hyssop, believed to be a different plant generally identified with ''Hyssopus officinalis
''Hyssopus officinalis'' or hyssop is a shrub in the Lamiaceae or mint family native to Southern Europe, the Middle East, and the region surrounding the Caspian Sea. Due to its purported properties as an antiseptic, cough reliever, and expect ...
''.
Problems with identification arise from Jewish oral tradition, where it expressly prohibits the use of Greek hyssop, and where the biblical plant is said to have been identical to the Arabic word za'atar (''Origanum syriacum''), which is not to be confused with other types of ''ʿezov'' that often bear an additional epithet, such as ''za'atar parsi'' ('' Thymus capitatus''), ''zaatar rumi'' (''Satureja thymbra
''Satureja thymbra'', commonly known as savory of Crete, whorled savory, pink savory, and Roman hyssop (Arabic Language, Arabic: ''za'atar rumi''; ''za'atar franji''), is a perennial-green dwarf shrub of the family (biology), family Lamiaceae, ha ...
''), and ''zaatar mani'' ('' Clinopodium insulare'').
Description
''Origanum syriacum'' grows to a height of 1 meter. The plant is pollinated by bees.
Distribution
''Origanum syriacum'' is native to the Middle East
The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq.
The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...
.[ In Egypt, ''Origanum syriacum'' subsp. ''sinaicum'' is a very rare plant that grows on stony ground in ]Sinai Peninsula
The Sinai Peninsula, or simply Sinai ( ; ; ; ), is a peninsula in Egypt, and the only part of the country located in Asia. It is between the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the south, and is a land bridge between Asia and Afri ...
including the coastal Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...
strip. Wild hyssop and sage are protected under Israeli law as endangered plants, but no major studies on their status have been conducted since 1977. Foraging for Za’atar is illegal under Israeli law.
Use
Food
''Origanum syriacum'' is harvested in the wild for use in preparing ''za'atar'', a mixture of dried herbs, sesame and sumac
Sumac or sumach ( , )—not to be confused with poison sumac—is any of the roughly 35 species of flowering plants in the genus ''Rhus'' (and related genera) of the cashew and mango tree family, Anacardiaceae. However, it is '' Rhus coriaria ...
for flavoring and garnish. For example, in Lebanon, a typical za'atar blend often consists of dried leaves from ''Origanum syriacum'' and '' Thymbra spicata''. This blend is complemented with ground fruits of ''Rhus coriaria
''Rhus coriaria'', commonly called Sicilian sumac, tanner's sumach, or elm-leaved sumach, is a deciduous shrub to small tree in the cashew family Anacardiaceae. It is native to southern Europe and western Asia. The dried fruits are used as a sp ...
'' (sumac), toasted sesame seeds, and salt. It is a common practice to mix za'atar with olive oil
Olive oil is a vegetable oil obtained by pressing whole olives (the fruit of ''Olea europaea'', a traditional Tree fruit, tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin) and extracting the oil.
It is commonly used in cooking for frying foods, as a cond ...
at home, creating a spread that is then applied to flatbreads called ''manakish
Manakish (), or in singular form man'ousheh (), or other spellings, is a popular Lebanese food consisting of dough topped with za'atar, cheese, or ground meat. It can be sliced or folded, and it can be served either for breakfast or lunch.
Tr ...
''.
Folk medicine
In Lebanon
Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...
, dried ''O. syriacum'' is used against gastrointestinal
The gastrointestinal tract (GI tract, digestive tract, alimentary canal) is the tract or passageway of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The tract is the largest of the body's systems, after the cardiovascular system. ...
issues such as pharyngitis
Pharyngitis is inflammation of the back of the throat, known as the pharynx. It typically results in a sore throat and fever. Other symptoms may include a runny nose, cough, headache, difficulty swallowing, swollen lymph nodes, and a hoarse vo ...
, stomach aches and cough
A cough is a sudden expulsion of air through the large breathing passages which can help clear them of fluids, irritants, foreign particles and Microorganism, microbes. As a protective reflex, coughing can be repetitive with the cough reflex fol ...
.
Collection and restrictive measures
So precious is this herb that in the Levant, native Palestinians will forage and gather it between May and August. However, following the implementation of protective laws, those caught collecting wild hyssop can be prosecuted and face large fines. It has recently entered cultivation due to high levels of demand.
Further reading
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References
External links
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Wild Flowers of Israel. ''Majorana syriaca''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q13714507
syriacum
Flora of Western Asia
Flora of Egypt
Flora of Turkey
Flora of Cyprus
Flora of Syria
Flora of Lebanon
Flora of Jordan
Flora of Sinai
Flora of Israel
Flora of Palestine (region)
Flora of Saudi Arabia
Plants described in 1753
Garden plants
Medicinal plants
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
Plants in the Bible