Monarda didyma, also named Crimson Bee Balm, Scarlet Bee Balm, Scarlet Monarda, Oswego Tea, or Bergamot, is an aromatic herb in the family Lamiaceae, native to eastern North America from Maine west to Ohio and south to northern Georgia.
Monarda didyma is a hardy perennial plant that grows to 0.7 - 1.5m in height, with the stems square in cross-sections. The leaves are opposite on the stems, 6-15cm long and 3-8cm broad, dark green with reddish leaf veins and a coarsely toothed margin, are glabrous or sparsely pubescent above with spreading hairs below. It has ragged, bright red, tubular flowers that are 3-4cm long, with showy heads of about 30 together, with reddish bracts. Monarda didyma grows in dense clusters along stream banks, thickets, and ditches; flowering from mid- to late summer.
Monarda didyma is extensively grown as an ornamental plant, both within and outside of its native range; it is naturlized furthere west in the United States and in parts of Europe and Asia. It grows best in full sun, but tolerates light shade and thrives in any moist, but well-drained soil. Several cultivars have been selected for different flower color, ranging from white through pink to dark red and purple.
Its odor is considered similar to that of the Bergamot Orange (the source of Bergamot oil used to flavor Earl Grey Tea). The scientific name comes from Nicolas Monardes, who described the first American flora in 1569.
Monarda didyma attracts hummingbirds and is a larval host to the hermit sphinx, orange mint moth, and the raspberry pyrausta.
Monarda didyma has a long history of use as a medicinal plant by many Native Americans, including the Blackfoot. The Blackfoot people recognized this plants strong antiseptic action, and used poultices of the plant for skin infections and minor wounds. The Winnebago tribes and Oswego tribes used an herbal tea made from Monarda didyma as a general stimulant. It was also used as a carminative herb by Native Americans to treat excessive flatulence. An herbal tea made from the plant was also used to treat mouth and throat infections caused by dental caries and gingivitis. Monarda didyma is a natural source of the antiseptic, thymol; the primary ingredient in modern commercial mouthwash formulas.
Article excerpt is from Wikipedia.org under the Creative Commons License.
Image reused under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Add comment
Comments