american history

Frost Flowers or Fairy Skirts: Tales of American Dittany

Frost Flowers or Fairy Skirts: Tales of American Dittany

Another fascinating species that likes to live on the edge, and the subject of today’s enchantment, is the American Dittany. Historically, the plant was classified as either Mappia origanoides or Cunila mariana, with folks finally settling on a combination of the two resulting in its modern Latin binomial, Cunila origanoides (L.) Britt. Over the years the species has also enjoyed several other names including Maryland Dittany, Stone Mint, Wild Oregano, or for those who still believe…’Fairy Skirts’ (although thoroughly explained later on in today’s tale, now is the moment to note that the latter will forever remain the species proper name).