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Hyssopus officinalis

Hyssop
Illustration Hyssopus officinalis0.jpg
1885 illustration
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Subfamily: Nepetoideae
Tribe: Mentheae
Genus: Hyssopus
Species: H. officinalis
Binomial name
Hyssopus officinalis
L.
Synonyms
  • Hyssopus alopecuroides Fisch. ex Benth.
  • Hyssopus altissimus Mill.
  • Hyssopus angustifolius M.Bieb.
  • Hyssopus aristatus Godr.
  • Hyssopus beugesiacus Jord. & Fourr.
  • Hyssopus canescens (DC.) Nyman nom. inval.
  • Hyssopus caucasicus Spreng. ex Steud.
  • Hyssopus cinerascens Jord. & Fourr.
  • Hyssopus cinereus Pau
  • Hyssopus cretaceus Dubj.
  • Hyssopus decumbens Jord. & Fourr.
  • Hyssopus fischeri Steud.
  • Hyssopus hirsutus Hill
  • Hyssopus judaeorum Sennen
  • Hyssopus montanus Jord. & Fourr.
  • Hyssopus myrtifolius Desf.
  • Hyssopus orientalis Adam ex Willd.
  • Hyssopus passionis Sennen & Elias
  • Hyssopus polycladus Jord. & Fourr.
  • Hyssopus pubescens Jord. & Fourr.
  • Hyssopus recticaulis Jord. & Fourr.
  • Hyssopus ruber Mill.
  • Hyssopus schleicheri G.Don ex Loudon
  • Hyssopus torresii Sennen
  • Hyssopus vulgaris Bubani
  • Thymus hyssopus E.H.L.Krause

Hyssopus officinalis or hyssop is a(n) herbaceous plant of the genus Hyssopus native to Southern Europe, the Middle East, and the region surrounding the Caspian Sea. Due to its properties as an antiseptic, cough reliever, and expectorant, it is commonly used as a medicinal plant.

Hyssop is a brightly coloured shrub or subshrub that ranges from 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in) in height. The stem is woody at the base, from which grow a number of straight branches. Its leaves are lanceolate, dark green in colour, and from 2 to 2.5 cm (0.79 to 0.98 in) long.

During the summer, the plant produces bunches of pink, blue, or, more rarely, white fragrant flowers. These give rise to small oblong achenes.

A plant called hyssop has been in use since classical antiquity. Its name is a direct adaptation from the Greek ὕσσωπος (hyssopos). The Hebrew word אזוב (ezov, esov, or esob) and the Greek word ὕσσωπος probably share a common (but unknown) origin. The name hyssop appears as a translation of ezov in some translations of the Bible, notably in verse 7 of Psalm 51: "Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean" (King James Bible), but researchers have suggested that the Biblical accounts refer not to the plant currently known as hyssop but rather to one of a number of different herbs, including Origanum syriacum (Syrian oregano, commonly referred to as "bible hyssop").I Kings iv. 33 mentions that 'ezov' was a small plant. It was burned with the Red Heifer (Num. xix. 6) and used for purification of lepers (Lev. xiv. 4, 6, 49, 51; comp. Num. xix. 18; Ps. li. 9), and at Passover it was used to sprinkle the blood of the sacrificial lamb on the doorposts(Ex. xii. 22).


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