ID. What is this leaf called?

[DreamKitty]

Ive been wondering what this leaf is, it's been growing in my garden and I smelt it, very nice citrusy smell. Can anyone ID and tell me whether it is edible?

[oldjerry]

lemon balm ?

[DreamKitty]

I was thinking that it might be lemon balm too. Do you think it looks similar to lemon balm? from the smell it smells so much like lemon lol.

[Davie Crockett]

It is Lemon balm and it is edible http://www.food.com/recipe-finder/all?f ... 6220,19294

[DreamKitty]

Thank you David for the link. Im quite excited now, that it is confirmed. My mum told me that a resident from our flat once grew his own herbs, chives etc and some other leaves. But it's been a few years since he has been gone. Im assuming that he must have planted lemon balm.

I think it will make a great tea, by the way is there any poisonous, inedible lookalikes of lemon balm?

[southeast-isher]

This should help you DreamKitty:

http://www.pfaf.org/user/plantsearch.aspx

[southeast-isher]

This is the entry for Lemon Balm: http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?Lat ... fficinalis

[DreamKitty]

Thanks again southeaster-isher. What a useful site. I favourited it. I was quite shocked to read that they grow in "Waste places and derelict land near human habitations". But thats good to hear since it must mean, they are very easily accessible, sounds like a great herb. Im going to go down to my garden soon and pick them up. For a long time my mum was also curious whether it was actually mint but I think it smells very refreshing & strongly of lemon.

[southeast-isher]

It is an excellent database, there is also a book here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plants-Future-E ... 900&sr=8-1

[DreamKitty]

I love reading in general so I might look out for that boo k. I actually prefer to read books then go online but that database is very easy to understand. I also like that it gives ratings of how edible and useful it is for medicinal purposes.

[southeast-isher]

I haven't got the book yet but i paid for the offline database.