A genus of two or three species in the Mediterranean region (including N. Africa), Portugal and N.W. Spain. Leaves aromatic, strongly revolute, linear. Flowers in short axillary racemes from the previous season’s growth. Calyx campanulate, two-lipped. Corolla with a retuse or two-lobed upper lip, lower lip three-lobed, the middle lobe concave. Stamens two, exserted. Style exserted.
The generic name is taken from the Latin word for rosemary, which was also rendered as ros maris or simply ros by some Roman authors. Ros in Latin can also mean ‘dew’, whence the popular belief that Rosmarinus means ‘sea-dew’.