Micromeria fruticosa


Micromeria fruticosa, commonly known as white micromeria or white-leaved savory, is a dwarf evergreen shrub endemic to Palestine and Israel and the eastern Mediterranean. It is a member of the genus Micromeria, in the family Lamiaceae. It is known as zuta levana in today's Modern Hebrew and ashab a-shai in Arabic.
The Bedouins of Israel, however, call it by the Arabic name, qurniyya, believed to be a cognate of the Hebrew qoranit, an aromatic herb described in the Mishnah. The plant's aromatic leaves are used in making decoctions.
White-leaved savory grows mainly on rock surfaces in the low Mediterranean region, and is more common on chalk and calcrete rocks than on rocks of limestone. In the Levant its white blossoms can be seen between July to November.

Taxonomy & nomenclature

Plant properties

The plant, which contains a high concentration of the monoterpene essential oil known as pulegone, as well as isomenthol, is known for its medicinal properties. In folk remedies, it has been used in treating ailments such as abdominal pains, diarrhoea, eye infections, heart disorders, high blood pressure, weariness, exhaustion, colds and open wounds. Other usages include making a poultice from the boiled leaves and applying it onto burns and skin infections, or drinking an infusion from its leaves for relieving stomach aches, or gargling with the same for treating bad breath odors and gum infections.