Marjoram Provence" and "za'atar". The flowering leaves and tops of marjoram are steam-distilled to produce an essential oil that is yellowish in color (darkening to brown as it ages). It has many chemical components, some of which are borneol, camphor, and pinene. Oregano ("Origanum vulgare"), sometimes listed with marjoram as "O. majorana") is also called wild marjoram. It is a perennial common in southern Europe and north to Sweden in dry copses and on hedge-banks, with many stout stems high, bearing short-stalked, somewhat ovate leaves and clusters of purple flowers. It has a stronger flavor than marjoram. Pot marjoram or Cretan
Cheddar Gorge at the gorge include dormice, yellow-necked mice, slowworms and adders and the rare large blue butterfly ("Maculinea arion"), and small pearl-bordered fritillary ("Boloria selene"). A wide variety of wild birds may be seen in Cheddar Gorge including peregrine falcons, buzzards, kestrels, ravens and the grasshopper warbler ("Locustella naevia"). The flora include chalk grassland-loving species such as marjoram and wild thyme. The Cheddar pink, "Dianthus gratianopolitanus", also known as firewitch, only grows in the wild in the gorge. It was once common in the gorge but declined after being picked by collectors. It is also home to unique species of whitebeam.