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Common Name:

General Information

Origanum microphyllum is a herbaceous perennial plant
In trials, the plant has been shown to have a significant activity against the parasite that causes leishmaniasis[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Mediterranean - Crete

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Height	0.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

An extract from the aerial parts of the plant showed significant activity against Leishmania donovani, one of the organisms that cause the parasitic disease leishmaniasis. Related species contain triterpenes, ursolic acid, and oleanolic acid, compounds previously identified in Greek Lamiaceae and recently shown to have strong activity against Leishmania species[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring at 10 - 13°c and only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place within 2 - 4 weeks. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer.
The seed can also be sown in situ in mid spring or early May and, although it can be slow to germinate, usually does well[].
Division in early spring or early autumn. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Basal cuttings of young barren shoots in early summer. Very easy. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.