Oregano is an herb that belongs to the mint family. Although some people call wild marjoram origanum, botanists say that origanum is a separate genus.
   Oregano is a beautiful leafy perennial grown widely in the United States, Mexico, Italy, and Spain. It is used in powdered or dried-leaf form to season Mexican and Italian dishes, hot sauces, and bean dishes.
   The herb plant may grow three feet high in warmer climates, has large clusters of pale, purplish-pink flowers, and oval, gray-green leaves. The flavor of oregano is much more pungent than the flavor of marjoram