wild bergamot
wild bergamot Lexical Profile
• noun
North American A widely distributed native North American perennial plant (Monarda fistulosa) belonging to the mint family, characterized by highly aromatic, citrus-scented leaves and clusters of showy, tubular, lavender or pink flowers.
"The native prairie garden was filled with wild bergamot, which attracted countless bees and butterflies throughout the summer."
Word Nuance & Usage
Though its leaves share a similar citrus-like fragrance, wild bergamot is an herbaceous mint-family plant and is biologically unrelated to the bergamot orange tree used to flavor Earl Grey tea.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The plant was named 'wild bergamot' because its highly aromatic leaves possess a scent reminiscent of the bergamot orange (Citrus bergamia), which historically traces its name back to the Italian city of Bergamo.