94 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



Locality. Dry pastures and banks, especially in a chalky or 

 gravelly soil. P. FL May, June. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



In all the Districts. Stems 1 to 2 feet high. Lower leaves petio- 

 latc, ovate, upper ones sessile and acute, all wrinkled with veins. 

 Corolla purple, small in proportion to the calyx ; upper lip concave, 

 compressed. 



Thymus, (Linn.) Thyme. 

 Linn. CI. xiv. Ord. i. 



Narrie. (Thymos) is a word used by old Greek authors, probably 

 from (thyo) to perfume, because it was used for incense in temples. 



1. T. SerpyVlum, (Linn.) common or garden Thyme. Serpyllum 

 is a word used by Virgil to signify a kind of wild Thyme ; from 

 serpo, to creep, in allusion to its habit. Engl. Bot. t. 1514. 



Locality. On heathy and chalky banks and pastures. P. Fl. 

 Jtme, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



Frequently distributed throughout the County. Stems filiform, 

 decumbent and rooting. Leaves elliptical-ovate, sprinkled with 

 resinous dots. Heads of Flowers terminal. Seeds seldom perfected. 

 Exceedingly variable in size, scent, and in the hairiness of the 

 foliage in different soils and situations; but it is very doubtful 

 whether any of the cultivated Thymes derive their origin from 

 this as commonly supposed. 



The variety T. citrina occurs in some plenty on Monkton Far- 

 leigh down. {North-west District.) 



Cottony galls are sometimes observable on the wild Thyme ; 

 these are supposed to be the nidus of a species Tephritis. 



T. Chammdrys, (Fries.) stated in the "Flora of Marlborough 33 to 

 have been found at Pewsey by Mr. C. Stedman, must be referred to 

 T. serpyVlum, (L.) as I am informed by the Rev. T. F. Ravenshaw. 

 It is not unlikely this plant will ultimately be detected in Wilts. 



Origanum, (Linn.) Marjoram. 

 Linn. CI. xiv. Ord. i. 

 Name. From (oros) a hill, and (ganos) joy ; from the dry hilly 

 places of which the species are the ornament. Marjoram is a 

 translation of Marjorana. 



