One Plant – Many Stories

Plants often carry stories alongside science and traditional medicine. Over generations, people gave herbs names that reflected not only how they used them, but also how they understood the world around them.

Maltese savory (Micromeria microphylla) became known as “stone-splitter” because earlier generations believed it could help people suffering from kidney or bladder stones. Today, researchers think its traditional reputation may be connected more to its strong diuretic properties rather than physically “breaking” stones.

Some names tell a culinary story. Savory was once called “poor man’s pepper” because, long before imported spices became common in Europe, people used aromatic herbs like savory to bring warmth and flavour to food. Its peppery taste made it a valuable household plant across generations.

Other names belong to older myths and beliefs. The Latin name connected with savory, Satureja, has traditionally been linked to satyrs – mythical half-human, half-goat figures from ancient Roman and Greek traditions associated with nature, vitality, and passion. Because of these associations, savory sometimes gained names such as “love herb,” “satyr’s herb,” and even “devil’s herb.” According to historical traditions, some monasteries were said to discourage its cultivation because of its reputation for encouraging desire and strong emotions.

Maltese savory also tells a local Mediterranean story. Small aromatic herbs growing naturally among limestone landscapes formed part of everyday life for earlier generations. People gathered wild plants, prepared simple infusions, learned from neighbours and older family members, and relied on local knowledge passed from one generation to another. As one Maltese participant reflected during the project:

“The farmer used to be the pharmacist in the past.”

Today, many people walk past plants like Maltese savory without noticing them. Yet hidden between rocks is a plant carrying centuries of observation, culture, food traditions, herbal practices, and stories – reminding us that nature is not only something around us, but something people once knew deeply.