dittany

dittany (DIT-n-ee) - n., an aromatic Cretan perennial (Origanum dictamnus) of the mint family, having spikes of purple flowers and formerly believed to have medicinal qualities, also called Cretan dittany; an aromatic eastern North American perennial (Cunila origanoides) of the mint family, bearing clusters of purplish flowers and used medicinally, also called stone mint or common dittany; an aromatic Eurasian perennial (Dictamnus albus) of the citrus family, having lemony foliage and white or pink flowers that emits a flammable vapor on hot days, also called burning bush, false dittany, and fraxinella.


A few commonalities among all those, as you can see. The second and third are named after the first, which in Middle English was spelled ditane/detany, from Old French ditain, from Latin dictamnus/dictamnum, from Greek díktamnon, the Cretan plant, which is perhaps akin to Díktē, a mountain in Crete where the plant grew.

---L.