description
Lippia graveolens an evergreen, flowering, woody shrub or small tree in the Verbenaceae family, is native to the southwestern United States (Texas and southern New Mexico), Mexico, and Central America as far south as Nicaragua. Its thin, arching branches are irregular and open giving it a sprawling look. All year it produces small, fragrant, oval leaves with toothed edges that are dark green and rough to the touch. The white or yellow flowers are small, star-shaped and clustered together at the branch tips. They usually appear from spring through fall, especially after a rain, and are fragrant. Small, dry, round fruits follow the blooms. It can reach 1–2.7 m (3.3–8.9 ft) in height.
common names & nomenclature
Also known as:
Mexican oregano, redbrush lippia, orégano Cimmaron, scented lippia, and scented matgrass. The species name is derived from two Latin words: gravis, meaning "heavy", and oleo, meaning "oil".