What is Oregano?
{{no sources|date=December 2020}} {{Taxobox | name = Oregano | image = Origanum vulgare - harilik pune.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = Flowering oregano | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Lamiales]] | familia = [[Lamiaceae]] | genus = ''[[Origanum]]'' | species = '''''O. vulgare''''' | binomial = ''Origanum vulgare'' | binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]] }} '''Oregano''' (''Origanum vulgare''), also known as '''wild marjoram''', is a [[species]] of ''[[Origanum]]''. It is native to [[Europe]], the [[Mediterranean|Mediterranean region]] and southern and central [[Asia]]. It is a [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[herb]]. It can grow to 20–80&nbsp;cm tall. Its leaves are opposite each other. They are 1–4&nbsp;cm long. The [[flower]]s are purple. They can grow 3–4&nbsp;mm long. The name of the plant comes from the Greek ''origanon'' [ὀρίγανον]: oros [ὄρος] “mountain” and the verb ''ganousthai'' [γανοῦσθαι] “delight in”. == Growing oregano for cooking == [[File:Oregano.jpg|left|thumb|Oregano growing in a field.]] The subspecies of oregano ''Origanum vulgare hirtum'' is an important herb. It is used for cooking, especially in [[Turkish cuisine]] and [[Italian cuisine]]s. The leaves are used for cooking. Oregano is often used for [[tomato]] [[sauce]]s, fried [[vegetable]]s and grilled meat. Together with [[basil]], it adds much to the special character of many Italian dishes. Oregano is an ingredient needed for [[Turkish cuisine]]. It adds flavour to the [[Turkish choban salad]]. It can be used separately. It can also be added to the lemon-olive oil sauce that goes with almost every [[fish]] or meat [[barbecue]]s and some [[casserole]]s. Oregano has an [[aroma]]tic, warm and slightly bitter taste. The taste varies in intensity; good quality is so strong that it almost numbs the tongue, but the cultivars adapted to colder climates have often unsatisfactory flavour. The influence of climate, season and soil on