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Melissa officinalis L. subsp. officinalis Family Lamiaceae
Common name: Balm

Melissa officinalis subsp. officinalis L. APNI*

Description: Herb to 1 m high, much-branched; branches becoming slightly woody at the base.

Leaves with lamina ovate, 2–8 cm long, 1.5–5 cm wide; apex subacute; base truncate to cuneate; margins with scattered long simple hairs; petiole 1–4 cm long.

Inflorescence usually 6–10-flowered per node. Calyx 7–8 mm long. Corolla 8–12 mm long, pale yellow to pinkish blue, glabrous; lips shorter than tube.


Flowering: December–March

Distribution and occurrence: Grows in moist areas, particularly of creeks and drainage lines, often growing vigorously in gardens; south from the Orange district. Probably native of E Medit. region, now widely naturalized and cultivated in Eur.
NSW subdivisions: *CC, *CT, *ST
Other Australian states: *Vic. *Tas. *S.A.
AVH map***


The single subspecies in NSW. Characters and distribution as for the species in NSW.

APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.

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