Wild Origanums

[Guest guest]

On 17 February 1999, someone asked: " I'm curious about the above

mention that marjoram and oregano both grow wild. Are they growing in

the same areas/gardens/fields? The reason I'm asking is, I always

thought that the two needed to be kept apart because they end up

cross-pollinating then producing a " weird " plant which ends up being

neither a true marjoram nor true oregano. Any ideas on this? "

 

And I replied:

----

The Origanums are all natives of Asia Minor and they were once ALL wild

and natural plants. Here in Turkey, they are still wild-grown - they

are not - under any conditions - grown in a garden, field or hot house.

 

They grow in the mountains, the valleys, the hills and the dales. On

the edges of forests and in fence rows and anywhere else the Great

Spirit allows them to thrive. They grow amongst the ruins of cities

that were abandoned hundreds and thousands of years ago; like Pergamon,

Perge, Ephesus, Heropolis, Nicea, Troy, Gordian, Antioch and hundreds

more. I have photos of me amongst the plants in many of those cities

and I always joke when someone asks if our plants are certified organic.

We have no such needs here as fertilizer is not used - and we have no

such system. I tell them that the Minister of Agriculture thinks its a

joke but the Minister of Culture is willing to sign a document saying

that there have been no commercial fertilizers or chemical pesticides

used on the plants in and around those cities (and in the mountains) for

at least a few thousand years.... ;-)

 

The Origanums are eaten by the goats and sheep, but not by the cows or

horses. You can always tell when a sheep has grazed on oregano - you

can taste it in the meat and it's mighty good.

 

They do not cross pollinate - in fact, I've seen the different types of

origanums growing together in the same area - it might happen but I've

not seen it. I've only been here a bit over 18 years and still have a

lot of the country to see.

 

It's possible that some of those pot marjorams and other plants that

have been developed by man could cross pollinate - I know nothing about

that, but it doesn't happen with Origanum marjorana or Origanum vulgare.

 

We also have many different sages here - they are all wild-grown and

they don't cross pollinate. We have different thymes - same story.

 

Also - and this is trivia - Rosmarinus officinalis is an original native

of Asia Minor and ALL of the rosemary found in Turkey is wild-grown. It

is not cultivated - ever!

 

I believe that nature has means of protecting it's botanical species

from cross pollination - thus, losing it's identity. I think that man

might upset that balance when he manipulates the various species to

create hybrids or cross bred plants.

 

I'll tell you that the wild-grown oregano in Turkey and Greece is far

stronger than that which is cultivated. In fact, a very famous spice

company has a large operation here and I can guarantee that any oregano

spice you buy in an American supermarket is a combination of natural

leaf and the leaf residue that's left over after distillation. If it

were not so, most Americans wouldn't eat it as it would overpower the

taste of the food. We take it wild from the fields here, but the people

in this area have been using it for many thousands of years. Americans

became accustomed to oregano only after WWII - when the GIs came home

from Europe (particularly Italy) after having learned to eat oregano.

 

Just an opinion based on a lot of observation and being here. I'm

always willing to stand corrected if someone presents data stronger than

personal opinion. And I hope I answered your questions. And if you

have more questions - please fire away.

 

Y'all keep smiling, Butch http://www.AV-AT.com