Rosemary

Rosemary, common name for an evergreen shrub, of the mint family. Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean region and is widely cultivated in dry soils for its aromatic, linear leaves, used for seasoning, which yield a volatile oil. Rosemary oil is used in medicine as a stimulant and as a constituent of liniments; it is also used in perfumes. During the spring the shrub produces clusters of blue, two-lipped flowers. The name “rosemary” is also applied to several unrelated plants, including the bog rosemary.

Scientific classification: Rosemary belongs to the family Lamiaceae (or Labiatae); it is classified as Rosmarinus officinalis. The bog rosemary belongs to the family Ericaceae and is classified as Andromeda polifolia.