The name hyssop was given to a number of different plants in olden times. The name itself tells us why this happened. It is derived from the Greek words 'hys', meaning pig, and `ops', meaning face. Many plants of the Lamiaceae (Labiatae) family have flowers that resemble a pig's snout.
However it was not until the late 16th century that is was first brought to Europe by the English navigator Sir Thomas Cavendish.
The relatively large flowers, growing from the leaf axils, are followed by a compound fruit (a follicle), fleshy at first, later becoming woody and forming an attractive star with anise-like fragrance (hence the common name star anise).
The ripe follicles burst on the ventral side to release the single seed contained in each. They are harvested when ripe and then dried. The seeds have a pungent, spicy flavour.'
Hyssop is a perennial, branching sub-shrub that turns woody at the base and reaches a height of 50 cm (20 in). Still grown widely for its many uses, it has no special growing requirements but prefers a sunny situation and lime-rich soil.
The flowers appear in late summer and early autumn, which is also when the plant is harvested by cutting the flowering parts that are not yet woody. Because it contains essential oils hyssop should he dried at a temperature not exceeding 35C (95F).
However it was not until the late 16th century that is was first brought to Europe by the English navigator Sir Thomas Cavendish.
The relatively large flowers, growing from the leaf axils, are followed by a compound fruit (a follicle), fleshy at first, later becoming woody and forming an attractive star with anise-like fragrance (hence the common name star anise).
The ripe follicles burst on the ventral side to release the single seed contained in each. They are harvested when ripe and then dried. The seeds have a pungent, spicy flavour.'
Hyssop is a perennial, branching sub-shrub that turns woody at the base and reaches a height of 50 cm (20 in). Still grown widely for its many uses, it has no special growing requirements but prefers a sunny situation and lime-rich soil.
The flowers appear in late summer and early autumn, which is also when the plant is harvested by cutting the flowering parts that are not yet woody. Because it contains essential oils hyssop should he dried at a temperature not exceeding 35C (95F).
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