Marrubium

For the ancient city in Italy called Marrubium, see San Benedetto dei Marsi.
Horehound
Foliage of Marrubium rotundifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Marrubium
L.
Synonyms[1]
  • Padota Adans.
  • Atirbesia Raf.
  • Maropsis Pomel

Marrubium (horehound or hoarhound) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae, native to temperate regions of Europe, North Africa, and Asia as far east as the Xinjiang region of western China. A few species are also naturalized in North and South America.[1][2][3][4]

Species[1]

The genus name Marrubium derives from the Hebrew marrob or bitter juice. The common name horehound is of unknown origin, but with the first part 'hore' derived from "hoary", "hairy".

The species formerly classified as Marrubium nigrum (Black Horehound) is now placed in the genus Ballota.

Marrubium species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Coleophora lineolea.

References

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