lavender

Commercial cultivation of lavender near Forcalquier, in Provence, France. The flowers are harvested for extraction of lavender oil, which is used in perfumes, aromatherapy, and medicinal products.

English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). Lavender is a small evergreen shrub with grey-green leaves and purple flowers in summer. Native to Europe, lavender is one of 3,500 species of the Lamiaceae family, which includes other aromatic plants such as catnip, basil, thyme, and mint. Lavender is cultivated for its essential oil, and for dried flowers.

Sweet-smelling purple-flowering herb belonging to the mint family, native to western Mediterranean countries. The bushy low-growing species L. angustifolia has long, narrow, upright leaves of a silver-green colour. The small flowers, borne on spikes, vary in colour from lilac to deep purple and are covered with small fragrant oil glands. Lavender oil is widely used in pharmacy and perfumes. (Genus Lavandula, family Labiatae.)