What is "melissa officinalis"

Melissa \Me*lis"sa\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. me`lissa a bee, honey.] (Bot.) A genus of labiate herbs, including the balm, or bee balm ( Melissa officinalis).

beebalm \beebalm\, bee balm \bee balm\n.

1. a perennial herb ( Monarda fistulosa) of North America.

2. a perennial aromatic herb of eastern North America ( Monarda didyma) having variously colored tubular flowers in dense showy heads.

   Syn: bee balm, bergamot mint, oswego tea.

3. a bushy perennial Old World mint, Melissa officinalis, having small white or yellowish flowers and fragrant lemon-flavored leaves; a garden escapee in northern Europe and North America.

   Syn: lemon balm, garden balm, sweet balm, bee balm, Melissa officinalis.

Melissa officinalis, known as lemon balm, balm, common balm, or balm mint, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to south-central Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean region, and Central Asia.

It grows to tall. The leaves have a gentle lemon scent, related to mint. During summer, small white flowers full of nectar appear. It is not to be confused with bee balm (which is genus Monarda). The white flowers attract bees, hence the genus name Melissa ( Greek for 'honey bee'). Its flavour comes from citronellal (24%), geranial (16%), linalyl acetate (12%) and caryophyllene (12%).