Book XI, Chapter 10

On the torongil or lemon balm of the Mainland.

Translated by Frederick Anderson ’19

In the Darién Gap, in the province of Cémaco and in other parts of the Mainland, where the language of the Cueva is spoken, there is an herb that smells very good and looks much in its form and manner like that which in Castile we term yerba buena.[1] It smells properly like torongil or lemon balm,[2] and so too do the Spaniards refer to it, but the branch is longer.

[1] Mentha spicata [EE]

[2] Melissa officinalis. [EE]