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Garden Thyme, Common Thyme
Thymus vulgaris
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Description
Thymus vulgaris has leaves that are oblong and about 1/4 to 1/2 inches long. It also contains flowers, which are lavender and are arranged in dense clusters on the branclets or in the terminal oval. The flowers bloom from May to September. The plant is prostrate with a stem that is 6-12 inches in length that is wiry with hairy
branches. Thyme is part of the Labiatae family (4).
Geographic
Location
The main geographic region that Thyme is found is in
mild-temperate to subtropical climates, such as the United States, Russia,
France, India, France, and Germany. (6).
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Native
Habitat
Thyme was originally native to Southern Europe and was cultivated in England before the middle of the 1500's. It is extensively cultivated in the United States, France, Germany, and
Greece (1).
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Optimal Growing
Conditions
Thyme is grown predominantly in sun areas, but will also survive on only four hours of sunlight. Thyme is grown from seeds or cuttings of shots in early summer. Thyme grows in loose, fast draining soil and does not necessarily have to be over fertile. As a result of providing too much fertilizer, thyme will loose its strong scent. Thyme is very hardy and can survive in temperatures below zero. Thyme grows in a soil pH in a range between 6.6 and
7.5 (6).
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Economic
Importance
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1 to 2 tons of thyme produces 20 to 40 lbs of thyme oil (6).
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Spain exports thyme oil, which has been water and steam distilled (6).
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Seeds of ajowan (ajowan contains
thymol) are exported from India to Germany for distillation (6).
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Ethnobotanical and
Cultural Information
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Thyme is used as antiseptic to help fight
infections (1) .
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It is used as an antispasmodic to help control
spasms (1).
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It is used as a Carminative to help expel gas from the digestive
tract (6).
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Thyme is used in predominantly all stomach discomforts and helps
decrease sluggish intestines (1).
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It is used to help against anemia (6).
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Thyme helps to strengthen the lungs and bronchial
ailments (6).
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It helps with urinary tract infections (6).
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Thyme also helps ease soar throats and increase perspiration during
the onset of a cold (1).
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The leaves and flowers are dried and
used (6).
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Thyme oil helps to reduce warts and hot swells (externally)
(6).
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Thyme was grown in monastery gardens
during the middle ages. (6)
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Fascinating
Facts
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Thyme is said to have been derived from the Greek word, meaning 'to fumigate', or from the Greek word thumus, meaning
courage (5).
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The ancient Romans used Thyme on cheese and liqueurs to give aromatic
flavor (5).
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In some areas it was customary for a girl to wear thyme around her neck when she was looking for
love (5).
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Thyme is burnt to bring good health (5).
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Thyme is also placed in a pillow to repel
nightmares (1).
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There are about sixty different varieties of
Thyme (1).
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Thyme contains oils, which are red, yellow, or colorless through the process of
distillation (1).
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Thyme contains 20-25% thymol, 25-40% phenols, saponins, thiamine, ursolic acid, caffeic acid, and
tannin (3).
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In Italy in 1953, two antibiotic substances were isolated from
Thyme (6).
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Thymol oil is analyzed to study it’saffects on growth within the
plant (7).
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Created by: Michael
Bowen, December 2002 |
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