Oregano (scientific name: OriganumvulgareL.) is a perennial semishrub or herbaceous, aromatic plant of the family Labiatae, genus Oregano; the rhizome is oblique and woody. Stems up to 60 cm tall, quadrangular, often leafless near base. Leaves stipulate, abaxially suborbicular, pilose, blade ovoid or oblong-ovoid, apex obtuse or slightly obtuse, bright green above, often with purple halo, pale green below, bracts mostly sessile, inflorescences corymbose panicles, many-flowered densely crowded, composed of spikelets; bracts acute, green or with purple halo, calyx campanulate, corolla purplish-red, light red to white, tubular campanulate, bisexual corolla, limb distinctly bilabiate, filaments Filaments filiform, flattened, glabrous, anthers ovoid, style slightly beyond stamens, lobes subulate. Nutlets ovoid, flowering in July-September, fruiting in October-December.

Also found in Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and introduced in North America. Born on roadsides, mountain slopes, forest understories, and grasslands, 500-3600 m above sea level.