Thymus
(from Thymos, the old Greek name used by Theophrastus for this plant or for Savory). Thyme. ORD. Labiatae. A genus of mostly hardy, small shrubs or under-shrubs, inhabiting Northern temperate regions, but mostly found in the neighbourhood of the Mediterranean. The number of species is variously estimated by different authors as between forty and eighty. Calyx ovoid, ten to thirteen-nerved, bilabiate, the upper lip three-toothed, the lower bifid; corolla tube naked within, the limb obscurely bilabiate, the upper lip straight and notched, the lower one trifid; stamens four, usually exserted; whorls often few-flowered, distant and axillary or spicate. Leaves small, entire; floral ones conformed, or changed to bracts on the spikes. The species are not possessed of much beauty. They are of simple culture in ordinary soil. Increased by divisions, by slips, by cuttings, or by seeds, sown in March or April. Other species formerly included here will be found under Calamintha. T. Chamaedrys (Chamaedrys). fl. light purple, sub-capitate, generally with several separate whorls beneath the terminal head. Summer and autumn. l. oval, elliptic-oval, or oblong-elliptical, generally rather abruptly contracted into the petiole. Stems wiry, ascending, slightly branched. Europe (Britain), &c. (Sy. En. B. 1044.) T. C. lanuginosus (woolly). A pretty form in which the leaves and young shoots are clothed with long, woolly hairs.
T. C. montanus (mountain-loving). l. larger than in the species. Branchlets longer and more erect. (B. M. 2666, under name of T. nummularius.) T. citriodorus (Lemon-scented). A synonym of T. Serpyllum vulgaris. T. nummularius (Moneywort-like). A synonym of T. Chamaedrys montanus. T. Serpyllum (Serpyllum). Brotherwort; Wild Thyme. fl. rose-purple, 1/4in. to 3/4in. long, on very short pedicels; whorls capitate; bracts leafy. June to August. l. green, flat, quite entire, 1/8in. to 1/4in. long. Stems decumbent. Rootstock woody. Europe (Britain), &c. (Sy. En. B. 1043.) T. S. vulgaris (common). Lemon Thyme. l. smaller, with very prominent veins. This is sometimes called T. citriodorus. see also Thyme. T. striatus (striated). fl., calyx teeth rigid, pungent; whorls closely approximating in an oblong head. l. sub-sessile, linear, rigid, narrowed at base, glabrous, ciliated; floral ones broadly cordate-ovate, striated, pubescent. Floriferous branches ascending. Greece. Half-hardy, procumbent shrub. SYN. T. Zygis (S. F. G. 574).
T. vulgaris (common). Garden Thyme. fl. resembling those of T. Serpyllum, but often smaller. June. l. sessile, 1/4in. to 1/2in. long, linear-or ovate-lanceolate, acute, the margins revolute. h. 6in. South Europe, 1548. (B. M. Pl. 205.) For culture, &c., see Thyme.
T. Zygis (Zygis). A synonym of T. striatus.