MICROMERIA. 
M. thyrsoidea is of more modest stature, hardly achieving more 
than half a yard, with a rosette of some three to six irregularly toothed 
leaves, oblong in outline, the whole plant being hoary with grey velvet. 
The stem is perfectly unbranched, and rises stiffly up for a foot or 
18 inches, set closely all the way from the base with wide velvety 
bells of blossoms. (Hot cliffs and crevices of Cilicia.) And yet other 
species are MM. stenophylla and M. nuda, but these have inferior 
blossom, and do not therefore so clamour for our notice. 
Micromeria; a charming race of wee labiate bushlings from 
the South, of fine habit, aromatic sweetness, and daintily pretty 
pink blossoms. They stand so close between Thymus and Satureia 
that nowadays the whole family is swept into the fold of Satureia, 
and there will be found in more learned catalogues. Here, for the 
sake of those less learned, we retain the old distinction without 
prejudice. All the species can be multiplied by seed, division, or 
cuttings, and all appreciate the hottest aspect of the rock-work in 
warm light soil. They are very close to Thymus and Satureia, and 
when an idea is conceived of them as having most delicate stems of 
fine wire, upstanding wirily, and delicately set with small fine leaves, 
and sprinkled in late summer with lively little flowers, there is hardly 
need minutely to differentiate between the many species that have 
been invented. M. juliana is taller than most, but variable, a giant 
of 8 inches, with varieties of condensed alpine port; and a species or 
sub-species quite near it is M. myrtifolia. These both have long loose 
spikes of pink. WM. cristata has especially many stems of 1 to 3 inches, 
beset with purple flowerets ; so has the precipice-lover, M. cremnophila, 
from the sheer walls of Parnassus. M. graeca is downy and bears 
pink blossoms in clusters from the upper axils ; notably exquisite and 
intricate and tortuous is M. microphylla, of 3 or 4 inches, and usually 
rather flopping, pale in the flower; M. nummulariaefolia is bright- 
green in the leaf and almost as decumbent as a creeping thyme, 
with uprising fine leafy stems of 2 or 3 inches, set with purple thyme- 
blossoms; M. libanotica is silver-hoary and erect and unbranching, 
about 5 inches high, with pink flowers in sprays of a few; M. mollis 
is conspicuously graceful and devious with intertwining hoary little 
erect shoots, and loose spires of blossom. WM. serpyilifolia and M. 
marifolia are much alike, with upright elongated sprays of flower, and 
stems clothed in pressed fine hairs; M. congesta belies its name by 
attaining 10 inches, and is hoary, with terminal flower-spikes of 
about an inch; M. Douglasii is rampant and repent, and very sweet, 
and rather tender in raw climates; WM. filiformis and M. Piperella 
may both be seen in the rocks of the Mediterranean Alps, inimitably 
492 
