Comparison of the Quality of Melissa officinalis L. cv. Citra with Melissas of EuropeanOrigin

Overview

Within two vegetation periods, melissas from 17 European regions and the inland cultivar Citrawere examined. Melissas differed in height, foliage, and essential oil content. In the cultivatingconditions under study, two collections were possible in one year. In both experimental years at thestage just before blooming, or at the onset of blooming, plants 60–80 cm in height prevailed in theset. The share of leaves in the tops was 35–70 %. In the second repeated harvest, plants with newlyformed sprouts reached a height of 15–35 cm and had the best foliage (60–95 %). The essential oilcontent in the leaves at the stage just prior to blooming, or at the onset of blooming, ranged from0.06 to 0.16% (V/m), and the maximal essential oil content was in the plants from the secondharvest (0.09–0.45 %). The cultivar Citra was characterized by medium height (75–80 cm), stablevalues of foliage (1 st harvest 55–60 %, 2 nd harvest 70–80 %), and essential oil content (1 st harvest0.13 %, 2 nd harvest 0.23–0.27 %).

Key words:
Melissa officinalis – Melissae folium – essential oil