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‘ y. Common Mother of Thyme. 
Serpyllum vulgare. 
The root is fmall, fibrous, and hard. ~ 
The ftalks are numerous, weak, and trailing : 
they are of a purplith colour toward the bot- 
tom, green at the top, and branched: they are 
fix or eight inches long ; and as they {pread every 
way from-the root, they naturally form a large 
tuft. 
The leaves are fmall, and placed in pairs with- 
“out footftalks: they are of an oval figure, but 
pointed ; and their colour is a deep green. 
The flowers ftand in fmall tufts at the tops of 
all the ftalks and branches; and they are mode- 
rately large, and of a beautiful purple. 
The feeds are fmall, blackifh, and round. 
It is common on heaths in dry paftures, and 
by road-fides. It flowers in July. 
C. Bauhine calls it Serpyllum vulgare minus. 
Others, Serpyllum vulgare. Our people, Mother 
of thyme, and Wild thyme. 
Tc is excellent againft nervous diforders, An 
infufion of it made, and drank in the manner of 
tea, is pleafant; and is an excellent remedy for 
head-achs and giddinefs, and other diforders of 
that kind. It certainly cures that troublefome 
difeafe the nightmare. A gentleman afflicted ter- 
ribly with that complaint took a ftrong infufion 
of this by way of remedy, and was free many 
years. Afterwards the diforder returned, but al+ 
ways gave way to the fame remedy. 
The flowers of the common mother of thyme are 
fometimes larger, and fometimes fmaller. Hence 
fome authors have divided the plant into two 
fpecies ;| but I have often feen both in the fame 
fpot of ground, where they have plainly rifen from 
the fame feed. 
2. Broad-leaved Mother of Thyme, 
Serpyllum foliis latioribus. 
The root is long, flender, and hard, and has 
many very fmal!l fibres. 
The ftalks are numerous, tolerably upright, of 
a woody hardnefs, and of a brown colour. 
The leaves ftand in pairs; and they are oblong 
and broad, obtufe at the ends, and of a deep 
dufky green. 
The flowers ftand in longifh tufts at the tops 
of the ftalks; and are large, and of a faint red, 
often white. 
Four feeds follow each ; and they are roundifh, 
very {mall, of a deep brown, and glofly. 
The plant is larger, and grows more erect than 
the common mother of thyme. 
C, Bauhine calls it Serpyllum vulgare majus, 
Others, Serpylluim latifolium. 
It is common in our fouthern counties, and 
flowers in June. ; 
3. Lemon Thyme. 
Serpyllum folio longiore citratum. 
The root is long, thick, divided, and furnifhed 
with many fibres, 
The ftalks are numerous, round, firm, branched, 
of a pale green, and five or fix inches long, partly . 
procumbent, and partly raifed upright. 
The leaves are oblong and broad, fharp-pointed, 
and of a pale green. 
The flowers ftand at the tops of the ftalks and 
branches ; and they are of a pale red. 
The feeds are fmall, and brown. : 
The whole plant has a very agreeable fmell, 
an aromatick with a citron, or lemon-flavour. 
We have it wild in our fouthern counties, and 
it is cultivated in our gardens; but there is no 
difference except in fize. It flowers in June. 
C. Bauhine calls it Serpyllum foliis citri edore. 
Others, Serpyllum citratum, and Thymus citrei 
odore. 5 
4. Narrow-leaved fmooth Mother of Thyme. 
Serpyllum anguftifolium glabrum. 
The root is long and flender, and has a few 
fibres. 
The ftalks are weal, trailing, brown, branched, 
and eight inches long. 
The leaves are longifh, narrow, {fmooth, and 
of a deep green. 
The flowers are numerous, and of a faint red, 
The feeds are larger than in moft of the pre- 
ceding kinds, and of a purplith brown. - 
It is found on heaths in Kent and Suffex, and 
flowers in June. : 
C. Bauhine calls it Serpyllum anguftifolium gla- 
brum. 
5. Hairy Mother of Thyme. 
Serpyllum hirfutum folio oblongo obtufore. 
The root is long, flender, and brown, 
The ftalks are very numerous, weak, and trail- 
ing: they are of a purplifh colour, and very 
much branched. a 
The leaves are oblong, tolerably broad, and 
obtufe : they are of a pale green, and hairy. 
The flowers are fmall: they ftand at the tops 
of the ftalks in little hairy heads; and are natu- 
rally of a faint red, but often white. 
The feeds are {mall and blackith. 
We have it on the heaths'in Surry. It flowers 
in July. 
Ray calls it Serpyllum vulgare hirfutum. 
6. Broad-leaved great Mother of Thyme. 
Serpyllum latifolium fruticofius. 
The root is large and fpreading, 
The ftalks are thick, round, upright, very 
much branched, and fix or eight inches high: 
they fpread themfelves out into tufts, which have 
a fhrubby afpect, 
The leaves are broad and fhort, of a deep 
green, and hairy. : 
The flowers are large, and of a faint purple; 
and the feeds are very minute, roundifh, and 
black. : 
We have it on the Welch mountains. It 
flowers in Auguft. : 
C. Bauhine calls it Serpyllum latifolium birfu- 
tum. 
7. Creeping 
