Lemon balm was a favourite plant of the Tudors, who scattered the leaves across their floors. Its use in the Middle Ages is noted by herbalists, writers, philosophers, and scientists. Lemon balm was formally introduced into Europe in the 7th century, from which its use and domestication spread. It is mentioned by the Greek polymath Theophrastus in his Historia Plantarum, written in c.300 BC, as "honey-leaf" (μελισσόφυλλον). The use of lemon balm can be dated to over 2000 years ago through the Greeks and the Romans. The plants live for ten years the crop plant is replaced after five years to allow the ground to rejuvenate. During summer, small white or pale pink flowers appear. They are soft and hairy with scalloped edges, and have a mild lemon scent. The heart-shaped leaves are 2–8 centimetres (0.79–3.15 in) long, and have a rough, veined surface. Lemon balm plants grow bushy and upright to a maximum height of 100 cm (39 in). The second name, officinalis ( Latin, 'of the shop'), originates from the use of the herb by apothecaries, who sold herbal remedies directly to their customers. Lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis) is a perennial herbaceous plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, and native to south-central Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, Iran, and Central Asia, but now naturalized in the Americas and elsewhere. An illustration of Melissa officinalis from Flora von Deutschland Österreich und der Schweiz (1885)
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