Thymus (plant) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thymus (plant) |
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| Thymus vulgaris | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Subfamily: | Nepetoideae |
| Tribe: | Mentheae |
| Genus: | Thymus L. |
| Type species | |
| Thymus vulgaris L.
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| Synonyms | |
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The group of plants called Thymus (say "TY-muss") includes about 350 different kinds of plants. Many people know them as thymes. These plants are usually perennial, meaning they live for more than two years. They are also aromatic, which means they smell nice!
Thymus plants are often small, growing up to 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) tall. They are found in temperate parts of Europe, North Africa, and Asia.
Their stems are thin, and their leaves are small, usually 4 to 20 millimeters long. Most types of thyme have evergreen leaves, so they stay green all year. The leaves grow in opposite pairs and often have a strong, pleasant smell. Thyme flowers grow in tight bunches. They can be yellow, white, or purple.
Many Thymus plants are grown in gardens. People use them as culinary herbs for cooking or just for their beauty. The most famous one is Thymus vulgaris, known as common thyme.
Thymus plants are also important food for the larvae (young forms) of some Lepidoptera insects, like butterflies and moths. For example, some types of Coleophora moths eat only Thymus plants.
Understanding Thyme Names
It can sometimes be confusing to figure out the exact name of a thyme plant. Many garden centers use common names like "golden thyme" or "lemon thyme." But these names can sometimes refer to more than one type of plant.
Scientists use special names, called binomial names, to be very clear. Even so, there's still some confusion about how to name and group some thyme species. A plant expert named Margaret Easter has even made a list of different names for the same cultivated thymes to help clear things up!
Scientists group Thymus plants into different sections to understand them better. This helps them organize the many different species.
Cool Thyme Species
There are many interesting kinds of Thymus plants. Here are just a few examples:
- Thymus citriodorus – This one smells like citrus!
- Thymus herba-barona – Also known as caraway thyme.
- Thymus praecox – Often called creeping thyme because it spreads along the ground.
- Thymus pulegioides – Another type of lemon thyme.
- Thymus serpyllum – Wild thyme, often found growing in nature.
- Thymus vulgaris – The common thyme, widely used in cooking.
See also
In Spanish: Thymus para niños
