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That plant is hot as anything.

Would somebody please explain to me why lemon bergamot (Monarda citriodora) is called lemon bergamot?

There's no lemon anywhere in the taste.

The flowers and top leaves are hot as a very hot thing; the lower leaves are kind of bergamot-y.

But lemon?

Not in my experience.

Comments

There are other monardas, but only this one is called "lemon" bergamot. Weird.
The "Earl Grey" -tasting monarda is Monarda didyma.