Thyme

About 350 species, including:

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Thymus adamovicii

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Thymus bracteosus

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Thymus broussonetii

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Thymus caespititius

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Thymus camphoratus

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Thymus capitatus

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Thymus capitellatus

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Thymus carnosus

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Thymus cephalotus

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Thymus cherlerioides

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Thymus ciliatus

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Thymus cilicicus

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Thymus cimicinus

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Thymus comosus

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Thymus comptus

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Thymus doerfleri

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Thymus glabrescens

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Thymus herba-barona

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Thymus hirsutus

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Thymus hyemalis

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Thymus integer

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Thymus lanuginosus

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Thymus leucotrichus

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Thymus longicaulis

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Thymus longiflorus

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Thymus mastichina

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Thymus membranaceus

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Thymus montanus

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Thymus nummularis

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Thymus odoratissimus

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Thymus pallasianus

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Thymus pannonicus

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Thymus praecox

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Thymus pseudolanuginosus

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Thymus pulegioides

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Thymus quinquecostatus

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Thymus richardii

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Thymus serpyllum

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Thymus striatus

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Thymus thracicus

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Thymus villosus

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Thymus vulgaris

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Thymus zygis

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Thyme (Thymus) is a genus of about 350 species of aromatic perennial herbs and sub-shrubs to 40 cm tall, in the Family Lamiaceae and native to Europe, North Africa and Asia.

Related Topics:
Perennial - Herb - Sub-shrub - Lamiaceae - Europe - Africa - Asia

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A number of species has some chemotypes. The stems tend to be narrow or even wiry; the leaves are evergreen in most species, arranged in opposite pairs, oval, entire, and small, 4-20 mm long. The flowers are in dense terminal heads, with an uneven calyx, with the upper lip three-lobed, and the lower cleft; the corolla is tubular, 4-10 mm long, and white, pink or purple.

Related Topics:
Chemotype - Leaves - Evergreen - Flower

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Common Thyme or Garden Thyme, T. vulgaris is a commonly used culinary herb. It is a Mediterranean perennial which is best suited to well-drained soils and enjoys full sun.

Related Topics:
Culinary herb - Mediterranean

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Citrus Thyme T. x citriodorus (T. pulegioides x T. vulgaris) is also a popular culinary herb, with cultivars selected with flavours of various Citrus fruit.

Related Topics:
Cultivar - Citrus

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Woolly Thyme (T. pseudolanuginosus) and Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) are not culinary herbs but are attractive ground covers.

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Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is an important nectar source plant for honeybees. All thyme species are nectar sources, but wild thyme covers large areas of droughty, rocky soils in southern Europe (Greece is especially famous for wild thyme honey), as well as in similar landscapes in the Berkshire Mountains and Catskill Mountains of the northeastern US.

Related Topics:
Wild Thyme - Nectar source - Honeybee - Berkshire Mountains - Catskill Mountains

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Thyme is often used to flavour meats, soups and stews. It is used in French cuisine, where it is an important element in a bouquet garni, as well as in Herbes de Provence. It is also widely used in West Indian cuisine. In Jordan the condiment zahtar contains thyme as vital ingredient.

Related Topics:
French cuisine - Bouquet garni - Herbes de Provence - West Indian cuisine - Jordan - Zahtar

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Thyme should be added early in cooking so that its oils have time to be released.

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