The oregano belongs to the genus Origanum, family Lamiaceae, includes herbaceous plants, perennials, bushy, originating in the Mediterranean countries.
It grows wild in arid and sunny places up to 2000 m.s.l.m. and is cultivated as an aromatic plant and for its therapeutic properties. The name derives from the greek oros «mountain» and from gamos «splendor, delight» that is to say «joy of the mountain» because to the spontaneous state colors with its flowers the mountain slopes and hills stony and sunny. Have the characteristic of being hermaphrodites, and pollination happens thanks to insects especially bees and butterflies. The stem is erect, quadrangular, 50-80 cm tall, branched in the upper part and reddish color and coated, in most species, with dense hair. The root is a creeping rhizome blackish provided with brous roots. The leaves are oval- lanceolate, margins smooth or slightly notched, provided with a short petiole, often pubescent.