Lemon Balm

<p><b>Lemon balm</b> (<i>Melissa officinalis</i>), not to be confused with <a class="mw-redirect" title="Bee balm" href="/wiki/Bee_balm">bee balm</a> (which is genus <i><a title="Monarda" href="/wiki/Monarda">Monarda</a></i>), is a <a title="Perennial plant" href="/wiki/Perennial_plant">perennial</a> <a title="Herb" href="/wiki/Herb">herb</a> in the <a title="Mentha" href="/wiki/Mentha">mint</a> family <a title="Lamiaceae" href="/wiki/Lamiaceae">Lamiaceae</a>, native to southern <a title="Europe" href="/wiki/Europe">Europe</a> and the <a class="mw-redirect" title="Mediterranean region" href="/wiki/Mediterranean_region">Mediterranean region</a>.

It grows to 70–150 cm tall. The <a title="Leaf" href="/wiki/Leaf">leaves</a> have a gentle <a title="Lemon" href="/wiki/Lemon">lemon</a> scent, related to mint. During summer, small white <a title="Flower" href="/wiki/Flower">flowers</a> full of nectar appear. These attract <a title="Bee" href="/wiki/Bee">bees</a>, hence the genus name <i><a title="Melissa" href="/wiki/Melissa">Melissa</a></i> (<a class="mw-redirect" title="Greek Language" href="/wiki/Greek_Language">Greek</a> for 'honey bee'). Its <a class="mw-redirect" title="Flavour" href="/wiki/Flavour">flavour</a> comes from <a title="Citronellal" href="/wiki/Citronellal">citronellal</a> (24%), <a class="mw-redirect" title="Geranial" href="/wiki/Geranial">geranial</a> (16%), <a title="Linalyl acetate" href="/wiki/Linalyl_acetate">linalyl acetate</a> (12%) and <a title="Caryophyllene" href="/wiki/Caryophyllene">caryophyllene</a> (12%).</p>