Thymus Serpyllum. 
Common Wild Thyme. 
THYMUS Linnai Gen. PI. Didynamia Gymnospermia. 
Calycis bilabiati faux villis claufa. 
Rail Syn. Gen. Suffrutices et herb® verticillatje.' 
THYMUS Serpyllum floribus capitatis, caulibus repentibus, foliis planis obtufis, bafi ciliatis. Linntei 
Syjl Veget ab. p. 452. 
THYMUS foliis ovatis ad bafin ciliatis. Haller hijl. n. 235. 
THYMUS Serpyllum Scopoli FI. Carniol. n. 736. 
SERPYLLUM vulgare minus. Bauhin Pin. 220 * 
SERPYLLUM vulgare. Gerard emac. 570. 
SERPYLLUM vulgare minus. Parkinfon 8. Rail Sym p. 230, Common Mother of Thyme. Hudfon 
FI. Angi. p. 229. 
RADIX lignofa, fibrofa, fufca, perennis. 
CAULES numerofi, quadrangulares, duriufculi, pro- 
cumbentes, ramofi, ramis alternis. 
FOLIA ovata, petiolata, integerrima, plerumque las- 
via, glandulis pundata, petiolis ciliatis,^. 1,2. 
FLORES in fummitatibus caulium verticillatim dif- 
pofiti, et in capitulis fubrotundis congefti. 
CALYX : Perianthium monophyllum, tubulatum, 
ftriatum, fauce villis claufo, fig. 9, femibifi- 
dum in duo labia, labium luperius latius, tri- 
dentatum, dentibus reflexis ; inferius bifetum 
dentibus ciliatis, fig. 3, 4, 5. 
COROLLA monopetala ; Tubus longitudine fetarum 
calycis, labiu m l uperius reflexum, emarginatum, 
obtufum, inferius trifidum, longius, laciniis 
obtufis medio longiore, fig. 6. 
STAMINA: Filamenta quatuor ina:qualia; An- 
ther® minimae, fig. 7. 
PISTILLUM: Germen quadripartitum ; Stylus Co- 
rolla longior, recurvatus ; Stigma bifidum, 
acutum, fig. 8. 
SEMINA quatuor, parva, fubrotunda, fufca, fig. 10, ri. 
ROOT woody, fibrous, of a brown colour, and perennial. 
STALKS numerous, fquare, hard, procumbent, and 
branched ; the branches alternate. 
LEAVES oval, Handing on foot-ftalks, entire at the 
edges, generally fmooth, dotted with little 
glands; the foot-ftalks furnifhed with long 
hairs, fig. 1, 2. 
FLOWERS placed in whirls on the tops of the ftalks* 
and forming fmall roundifh heads. 
CALYX : a Perianthium of one leaf, tubular, ftriated, 
the mouth clofed up with hairs, fig. 9, divided 
into two lips ; the uppermoft having three 
teeth which bend back ; the lowermoft twefy 
much longer, narrower, and edged with hairs, 
A- 3’ 4 > 5- 
COROLLA monopetalous : the Tube the length of 
the Calyx ; the upper lip turning back, notch- 
ed in and blunt ; the lowermoft longer, divi- 
ded into three fegments, the fegments obtufe# 
the middle one longeft, fig. (u 
STAMINA: four Filaments of unequal lengths: 
Anther® very minute, 7. 
PISTILLUM : Germen dividing into four parts ; 
Style longer than the Corolla, and turning 
upwards ; Stigma bifid and pointed, fig. 8. 
SEEDS four, fmall, roundifh, of a brown colour, 
fig. 10, 11. 
FEW Plants are fubjedt to fo many varieties as the Wild thyme. In its moft natural ftate, when found 
on dry expofed Downs, it is fmall and procumbent: when growing among Furze or other plants, which afford 
it fhelter, it runs up with a {lender ftalk to a foot or more in height, and afl'umes an appearance which might 
puzzle the young Botanift. It differs alfo very much in the fmoothnefs and hairipefs of its leaves : and there 
is a Angular variety of it, remarked by Linn®us, with woolly heads, (Capitulis tomentofis) which are the nidus 
of fome Infeft. We have feen whole banks covered with this turgid variety. The Veronica Chanuedrys, Glechoma 
hederacea, Valeriana Locujla, and other plants, are frequently diftorted, and appear under the fame difguife 
from a fimilar caufe. 
On dry chalky Downs the Wild 'thyme abounds all over England; flowering in July and Auguft. 
It has been a received opinion, that Thyme and other aromatic herbs, give a flavour to the flefh of Sheep 
that feed where thefe plants are found : but curious obfervers haVe remarked, that Sheep neither eat Thyme 
nor any other aromatic herb when they have a free choice of pafturage.* 
The Antients planted Thyme for the fake of their Bees, who collect. Honey very largely from it ; which 
at that period was of more value than at prefent : the cultivation of Sugar in the Weft India Iflands, has 
contributed much to reduce its confequence in domeftic ceconomy. 
Theophrastus relates, that thyme produced no feed that could be difeovered ; but that the plant might 
be encreafed by fowing its flowers. Pliny copies this paflage from Theophrastus ; and inftead of doubting 
the fatt, remarks “ quid non tentavere homines ?" What experiments have not mankind tried ? The credulity of 
the Antients is very wonderful ! Whatever one Author advanced, the next took for granted, to the great de- 
triment of natural hiftory. — Inveftigation was never thought of ! 
Dr. Armstrong, in his elegant and claflical poem on health, recommends the foil where this plant 
(thyme or Marjoram ) abounds, as particularly healthful and proper for habitations. 
“ Mark where the dry Champaign 
“ Swells into chearful hills ; where Marjoram 
“ And thyme, the love of Bees, perfume the Air. 
“ there bid thy roofs , high on the bajking Jleep. 
“ Afcend : there light thy hof pit able fires". 
* See account of Sheep-walks in Spain, Gent. Mag. 1764. 
