Nomenclature

Species name:

Rosmarinus officinalis   L.

Author(s):

Carl von Linné
   Sweden, 1707-1778

General names:

Rosemary

Maltese name:

Klin

Plant Family:

Lamiaceae / Labiatae   (Mint Family)

Name Derivation:

Rosmarinus = Dew (ros-) of the sea (-marinus). Possibly the name have a connection to its wild coastal habitat in South Europe. (Latin);
officinalis = Commercially used and sold in shops for medicinal (or edible) applications. (Latin).

Synonyms:

Rosmarinus laxiflorus, R. angustifolius, R. aunieri, R. communis, R. cyanocalyx, R. flexuosus, R. latifolius, R. ligusticus, R. massiliensis, R. perrietii R. platyphyllus, R. rigidus, R. serotinus, R. tenuifolius

Plant Description

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Habitat:

Valley sides, Rocky Maquis,

Sources in Malta:

Examples include Wied Babu and Dingli Cliffs (Ghar il-Kbir area)

Plant Height:

From a small shrub (30cm) up to 1.8m

Flowering Time:

All year round

A highly aromatic, evergreen shrub that can grow up to 2 metres in diameter and often found in close-by scattered populations. The plant consists of several woody branches, where the lower ones tend to assume an ascending orientation.

Numerous tufts of leaves (about 8-12) are found along the length of each branch. These leaf tufts grow from the axil of a larger subtending leaf which often drops prematurely. The leaves are sessile, linear and the lower face of the lamina is covered with white, wool-like hair. The leaf margins are revoluted (flexed downwards) and as a result, the lower surface looks green (= the recurved leaf margins) with a white central stripe. The leaves are on average 18-30mm long and not more from 3mm wide.


Flowers are produced at the tip of each leaf-tuft. They have a very short pedicel and so the inflorescence is called a raceme. The calyx is light green with a whitish margin and consists of 2 semi-fused lips with the lower one bifid (further divided into 2 small lobes). The calyx is about 5mm long.


The pale blue corolla (sometimes lilac) consists of 2 different lips wide apart. The upper lip is bifid but not distinctly lobed. On the other hand, the lower lip possesses 3 defined lobes, 2 lateral ones and a central and larger lobe. The latter have a deep concave shape (cochleariform) and is further decorated by numerous dark violet speckles (mostly at the edges) which becomes arranged linearly towards the mouth as if forming an inward pathway.


The reproductive parts consist of two, long, down-curved, parallel stamens and one up-curved pistil, longer from the stamen by 5mm or so. The anthers are touching each other or sometimes coherent (partially fused). The small ovary is hidden at the base of the corolla tube. When fertilized, 4 nutlets are developed which turn brown when ripe.

Further Information and Links

Buy from and support MaltaWildPlants.com

Submit More Information