The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Melissa

a genus of perennial grasses of the family Labiatae. The small flowers have a two-lipped calyx and grow primarily in verticillate inflorescences located in the axils of the upper leaves. The fruit consists of four nutlike lobes. There are five species, growing in Eurasia. Of the two species found in the USSR, the lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) has economic importance. It is strongly branched and measures 45-125 cm in height; its flowers are pale yellow, white, or pink. The lemon balm grows in the Crimea, the Caucasus, and Middle Asia, in forests, thickets, and weed patches and along forest edges. It is cultivated (in the USSR, primarily in the Ukraine) because it yields essential oils, nectar, and spice. Melissa frequently grows wild. The leaves and tips of the stems contain a lemon-scented essential oil, consisting of citral, myrcene, and geraniol. The oil is used as a flavoring and in the production of perfume, liqueur and vodka, and pharmaceuticals.

T. V. EGOROVA

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References in periodicals archive

Melissa is applauded by Resource mainstay Sue Mitrovich, who retires as Managing Editor after nearly two decades on staff.

Passing the baton at Resource

Melissa during her River Severn challenge, which should end tomorrow

Just 20 miles to go for Melissa

Melissa Compton It will take up to three weeks to complete and Melissa, a nurse in the intensive care unit at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, will be swimming 10-12 miles a day.

Nurse's 220-mile Severn attempt; Melissa in brave swim bid

"The Fila and Melissa collaboration was spearheaded by Fila Italy and Fila USA, and is going on globally," said Cris Albert, president CEO of Fila Philippines.

Oddly Beautiful Pair

But I have lost 10-and-a-half stones and I'm in a size six dress now," said Melissa, of Ouston, nearChester-le-Street,County Durham.

The super slimmer who dropped from a dress size 26 to a tiny 6 - with incredible results; Melissa Middlemiss, 31, of Chester-le-Street, gorged on takeaways and saw her shopping bill rocket

Crushing on these: Melissa's colorful Crush sandals Wu's Hailey sandal is also super-pretty, with its floral insole and crisscrossing straps.

When 'Ugly' is the new cool

It shocked Melissa so much that she threw herself into learning about exercise and nutrition, throwing out all of the fatty snacks and junk food from her house in the process.

I lost stone by cutting out sugars in my brew News 5 9; how watching documentary on obesity made mum ditch junk food for healthy lifestyle

"For him to try and get released - if that was me and if I'd killed Melissa the mother of my kids, the person I was supposed to have loved, if it was during a mental episode then surely when you came round you'd feel awful and you'd want to be punished."

'He should be in there for life' Family of mum-of-two killed by her boyfriend outraged at bid for freedom

Melissa with brother Liam, he found her body and a few months later took his own life after leaving as note saying he wanted to be with his sister

Might knife killer be set free after just three years..? Family tell of their fear; paranoid schizophrenic understood to be seeking release from secure hospital

Melissa knew the president got a lot of letters, so she called a local billboard company to ask to have her letter put on a billboard.

Billboard Eco-Bonanza