Editing Hyssopus (plant)

{{short description|Genus of flowering plants in the mint and sage family Lamiaceae}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Hyssop
| image = Hyssopus officinalis.jpg
| image_caption = Inflorescence
| display_parents = 2
| taxon = Hyssopus (plant)
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]], 1753
}}
[[File:Illustration Hyssopus officinalis0.jpg|thumb|left|1885 illustration of ''H. officinalis''<ref>Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé, Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885, Gera, Germany</ref>]]

'''''Hyssopus''''' ('''hyssop''') is a genus of [[herbaceous]] or [[subshrub|semi-woody]] plants in the family [[Lamiaceae]], native from the east [[Mediterranean]] to central [[Asia]] as far east as [[Mongolia]].<ref name=m>[http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=102239 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]</ref><ref name="complete-herbal">{{cite web
|url=http://www.complete-herbal.com/details/hyssop.htm
|title=Spotlight on Hyssop
|access-date=2008-09-16
}}</ref> They are [[Aroma compound|aromatic]], with erect branched stems up to 60&nbsp;cm long covered with fine hairs at the tips. The [[Leaf|leaves]] are narrow oblong, 2–5&nbsp;cm long. The small blue [[flower]]s are borne on the upper part of the branches during summer. By far the best-known species is the herb hyssop (''H. officinalis''), widely cultivated outside its native area in the Mediterranean.

Though commonly called "''hyssop''", anise hyssop (''[[Agastache foeniculum]]''; also called blue giant hyssop) and all ''[[Agastache]]'' species are not members of ''Hyssopus''. However, both [[genera]] are in the [[Lamiaceae|mint]] family.

;Species<ref name=m/>
# ''[[Hyssopus ambiguus]]'' ([[Ernst Rudolf von Trautvetter|Trautv.]]) Iljin ex Prochorov. & Lebel - Altai Republic of Russia, Kazakhstan
# ''[[Hyssopus cuspidatus]]'' [[Antonina Georgievna Borissova|Boriss.]] - Altai Republic, Kazakhstan, Xinjiang, Mongolia
# ''[[Hyssopus latilabiatus]]'' C.Y.Wu & H.W.Li - Xinjiang
# ''[[Hyssopus macranthus]]'' Boriss. - Altai Republic of Russia, Western Siberia, Kazakhstan
# ''[[Hyssopus officinalis]]'' [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]] - central + southern Europe, Algeria, Morocco, east to Iran
# ''[[Hyssopus seravschanicus]]'' (Dub.) Pazij - Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan
# ''[[Hyssopus subulifolius]]'' (Rech.f.) Rech.f. - Afghanistan.

==History==
The name ''hyssop'' can be traced back almost unchanged through the [[Greek language|Greek]] ύσσωπος ({{Transliteration|grc|hyssopos}}).<ref name="complete-herbal"/> The name hyssop appears in some translations of the Bible, but researchers have suggested that the Biblical accounts refer not to the plant currently known as hyssop but rather to a related herb.<ref>{{cite journal | doi=10.1007/BF02858924 | volume=42 | issue=2 | title=Identification of biblical hyssop and origin of the traditional use of oregano-group herbs in the Mediterranean region | year=1988 | journal=Economic Botany | pages=232–241 | last1 = Fleisher | first1 = Alexander| bibcode=1988EcBot..42..232F | s2cid=45220405 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/eq/hyssop_harrison.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-06-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331201420/http://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/eq/hyssop_harrison.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Septuagint]] translates the name as ὕσσωπος ''hyssop'', and [[English translations of the Bible]] often follow this rendering. The Hebrew word אזוב (''esov'' or ''esob'') and the Greek word ὕσσωπος probably share a common (unknown) origin.<ref>''Oxford English Dictionary'', 2nd Edition, 1989, ''s.v.'' hyssop</ref> The biblical plant is discussed further at [[ezov]].

==End Uses==
The herb hyssop is used both as a condiment and a medicine. Hyssop leaves and flowers are used to flavor salads and soups. It is also used in the preparation of liquor and perfumes. In addition, it is used as a pot herb.<ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1016/B978-0-12-416641-7.00053-5 |chapter=Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) Oils |title=Essential Oils in Food Preservation, Flavor and Safety |date=2016 |last1=Judžentienė |first1=Asta |pages=471–479 |isbn=978-0-12-416641-7 }}</ref>

This herb is used in the treatment of throat and lung complaints, and is regarded as a stimulant, carminative, and expectorant. It is also effective in treating nervous disorders and toothache. Additionally, it is useful for treating pulmonary, digestive, uterine, urinary and asthma problems. Its leaves are stimulant, stomachic, carminative, and soothing to colic, and its juice is used to treat roundworms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rxlist.com/hyssop/supplements.htm|title=Hyssop: Health Benefits, Side Effects, Uses, Dose & Precautions}}</ref>

In addition to its use as a flavoring agent in bitters and tonics, hyssop oil is also used in perfumery. Various types of bronchial catarrh and asthma can be treated with it in small quantities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/h/hyssop48.html|title = A Modern Herbal &#124; Hyssop}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Agastache]], commonly known as giant hyssop
*[[Za'atar]]
*[[Ezov]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category-inline|Hyssopus}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q720501}}

[[Category:Lamiaceae]]
[[Category:Herbs]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]
[[Category:Lamiaceae genera]]