MINT FAMILY
All of the herb plants in the mint family are native to the Mediterranean except sweet basil, which is from tropical Africa and Asia.
The mint family includes thyme, sages, lavender, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, savory, hyssops, basil, the various mints, catnip, betony, horehound and many other herbs important to cooking and herbal medicine.
Members of the mint family, Labiatae, have hairlike oil glands on the leaves and stems, the essential oil from these glands are what makes this family of plants so valuable as a flavoring.
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