marrubium
marrubium Lexical Profile
• noun
A genus of herbaceous perennial plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae), native to temperate regions of Europe, North Africa, and Asia, typically characterized by wrinkled, downy leaves and small white or purplish flowers; commonly known as horehound.
"The botanist cataloged several species of marrubium growing on the dry, rocky hillsides of the Mediterranean coast."
The dried leaves and flowering tops of the white horehound plant (Marrubium vulgare), traditionally used in herbalism as an expectorant, a bitter tonic, or a flavoring for medicinal lozenges and beverages.
"The traditional cough drops were formulated with extract of marrubium to help soothe irritated throats."
• Rhymes for marrubium
Word Origin & Etymology
From Latin 'marrubium' (horehound), which Pliny the Elder recorded; often historically linked to the Hebrew word 'marrob' meaning a bitter juice, referring to the plant's noticeably bitter taste.