THYMUSL. - KEKİK
Scientific Description:
Small shrubs, cushion plants or perennial herbs, woody at least at base. Leaves entire with flat or revolute margins and/or marginal thickening (rarely keeled or subtriquetrous), sessile or petiolate, often ciliate towards base of lamina. Bracts, calyces and especially leaves with sessile colourless to bright red glands ('oil dots'), simple hairs usually present. Verticillasters 2-many-flowered, with subtending floral leaves, or crowded into a terminal head with clearly differentiated bracts. Bracteoles often minute. Calyx distinctly bilabiate; tube cylindrical to campanulate, 10−13-veined, straight, not usually ventricose, bearded in throat; upper lip broad, ± patent or recurved, 3-toothed to 1/10−1/2; lower teeth subulate, ciliate, curved upwards. Corolla purple, pink, cream or white; tube straight, exannulate; upper lip emarginate, ± straight; lower lip trilobed. Stamens 4, exserted in hermaphrodites, thecae parallel or divergent. Nutlets glabrous. Usually gynodioecious.
Reference:
Jalas J (1982). Thymus L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 7: 349.
Public Description:
Thymus is a genus of small shrubs, cushion plants or perennial herbs, known as “thyme”, and is native to temperate regions in Europe, North Africa and Asia. There are approximately 315 species in the world and 40 species (42 taxa) in Türkiye. They have purple, pink, creamy or white flowers and aromatic leaves. Thyme is grown in many countries around the world and is used in many different ways. Although thyme tea comes at the top of its usage forms, it is used as dried spices, especially in meat dishes, in Anatolia. Thyme tea is good for sore throat and cough and helps to regulate the menstrual cycle. In addition, thyme tea is also preferred because of its properties such as protecting the immune system, lowering cholesterol and improving the stomach. On the other hand, an oil called “thymol” with antibacterial properties is obtained from thyme species and used in many areas.
References:
Anonymous (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thymus_(plant)/, Accessed date: 17.02.2016.
Yıldız B (2012). Thymus L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 598–602.
