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Glite Dictionary
Melissa officinalis

Melissa officinalis

8.1
A lemon-scented herb used in teas and cooking, also called lemon balm
  • noun
  • /məˈlɪsə ˌɒfɪˈsɪnəlɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : melisa
  • The leaves of Melissa officinalis can be used fresh or dried in various culinary dishes.

Examples

  • I planted Melissa officinalis in my garden last spring.

  • Gardeners love growing Melissa officinalis because its lemony scent attracts bees.

  • Melissa officinalis is often used in herbal teas for its calming properties.

  • Have you ever tried using Melissa officinalis for tea?

  • The leaves of Melissa officinalis can be crushed to release a refreshing lemon scent.

  • Many gardeners grow Melissa officinalis due to its attractive flowers and pleasant fragrance.

  • Some herbalists use Melissa officinalis as a natural remedy for anxiety and stress.

Synonyms

lemon balm
vsMelissa officinalis
1 3.0

A herb with lemon-scented leaves used in cooking and teas

is the scientific name used in botanical contexts rather than everyday speech
sweet balm
vsMelissa officinalis
5.7

A bushy herb in the mint family with lemon-scented leaves, also called lemon balm

is the scientific Latin name rather than a garden or common name
garden balm
vsMelissa officinalis
6.2

A bushy plant with lemon-scented leaves and small white or yellow flowers that people use in teas

is the formal botanical name used in science and labels
field balm
vsMelissa officinalis
  • UK
8.8

A low-growing herb with lemon-scented leaves used to make calming tea

is the species name that covers all growth forms not just low varieties

Surface Forms

Melissa officinalis singular
Melissa officinalis plural

Morphology

Melissa + officinalis

The name is a standard botanical Latin binomial where 'Melissa' identifies the herb genus (including lemon balm) and 'officinalis' signals a species with traditional medicinal use, so a learner who knows those constituent meanings can infer it denotes the medicinal lemon-balm plant. Botanical Latin names follow predictable composition rules and are used cross-linguistically, which supports transparency for learners familiar with the parts.

Etymology

Melissa officinalis comes from two old words: Melissa meaning 'bee' because the plant's lemon smell attracts bees, and officinalis meaning 'used in medicine'. So the name gives a simple picture: a lemon-scented herb that bees love and people use for healing.