Rosemary is an evergreen shrub noted for the fragrance of its leaves. Rosemary grows wild in the Mediterranean region and measures from 2 to 6 feet (60 to 180 centimeters) high. It bears shiny, dark-green leaves and small, pale-blue flowers. In masses, blossoming rosemary looks like blue-gray mist blown inland from the sea. Its name comes from the Latin word rosmarinus, meaning sea dew.
Rosemary is used fresh or dried as an herb for seasoning. The plant yields an oil used in perfumes. The dried leaves have been used in sachets (small bags of perfumed powder), as a moth repellant, and to brew tea for stomachaches and headaches. Rosemary has long been a symbol of remembrance. Europeans carried rosemary at weddings and funerals because they believed it would aid their memories.
