Bergamot, << BUR guh mot, >> is a name given to several plants. The bergamot orange, also called bergamot tree, is a citrus tree grown commercially in southern Italy. It is grown as an ornamental plant in the Southern United States, in California, and in France. The tree produces small, fragrant flowers and a round or pear-shaped yellow fruit. The rind of the fruit is used to make a liquid called oil of bergamot. The oil has a strong, pleasant odor and is used in making perfume.
Various North American herbs are also called bergamots. Common species include the wild bergamot, the purple bergamot, and the prairie bergamot.
