LAB I AT .E. 203 



difficulties. The leaves are nse.l for lea as table leverage. an.l are preferred 



hv some to teas from China. 



The oil is very sharp, and use.l in lininu.nts for spra.ns and rheumatism. 



On account of its beauty it is a favorite plant in the tl<nver-garden. 



THYMUS L Calyx bilabiate, with 10 to l:i stride, o-toothecl, :i 



upper teeth short, triangular, lower pair linear subulate ascending ; 



rmolH •>-lippe(l, upper lip notched, lower lip :5-lobed, lobes equal or 



^^lolli W stamens 4, mostly -^^ted ; hl^ient. str^^^^^^ 



divergent. Leaves small, entire, strongly veined, lerennial heib, 



or woodv. 



I T vulgaris L. (Sweet Thyme.) Stem a foot high, slender, woody, 



branched Leaves sessile, linear-lanceolate or ovate, quarter of an inch l<>ng. 



edges revolute, hoary, especially beneath, and <lotted 



with oil-glands. Flowers small, purple, in terminal 



globose heads, occasionally a few lower whorls. In 



a state of nature, clothed with a gray pubescence ; 



under cultivation, greener, more luxuriant, and barely 



tomentose ; fragrant, pungent, and aromatic. 1 eren- 



nial herl). July. 



•> T serpyllum. L. Stem slender, much-branched, 



procumbent, hard, approachiug woodiness at the base, 



forming low, dense tufts, 6 to 12 inches in diameter, 



and covered with Howers. Leaves very small, ovate 



or oblong fringed at the base by a few long hairs on thymus vuloaris 



each side; floral leaves smaller. Flowers usually 6 (Thyme). 



in a whorl, without any other bracts than the floral 



leaves, forming sh.n-t, terminal, loose, leafy spikes; calyx hairy, and the whole 

 plant sometimes clothed with hoary hairs. 



Geograph!J. -Thyme is indigenous to Spain and other parts of southern 

 Europe the coasts of the Mediterranean, the mountains of (,reece and the 

 islands of the Archipelago, the British Isles, and north to southern Siberia. 



Et,jmoloc,>,.-Th,jmus is from the Greek e.^os, signifying 'courage o, 

 " strength/' Vulgaris, Latin vulgus, signifies " common. Serpylum, Latin 

 means ''creeping/' and is due to the prostrate character of this species 

 Thume, the common name, is a contraction of the generic name. 



Histon, -Thvme was known to the ancient Romans, who used it in various 

 ways to season food. It was in modern times described by l^ournefort, and 

 was brouc^ht to North America by European colonists. It was- a favorite 

 aroma ic herb of the Greeks, and abounded on Mt. Ilymettus near Athens, 

 "for its thvnie ami honey. Ovid. Vergil, an.l Pliny, all speak of the 

 thyme in connection with bees; and honey made from the thyme possessed 

 the flavor of the plant, an.l was on that account highly esteeme.l. 

 "-Thvme is use.l in manv culinary prep.rati.u.s for flavoring ..auces. 

 grav es, ehoe'se. and meats, sausage, etc. The plant yiel.ls to ^-ti llation an 

 Lential oil. which is a powerful local stimulant. n combination with 

 camphor an.l alcoh.>l, it is use.l as a liniment for chrome rheumatism. I i. 

 an important ingre.lient in liniments, and is largely used for low grades of 

 seen «s. The plant is also .MupU.ye.l for .u>rdcrs in plante. gr.mnd. 

 •'Fhe variegated varieties. T. platif.>lia. and T. auntol.a. are use.l tor that 

 purpose. 



>r 

 ies. 



