Winter thyme facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Winter thyme |
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Thymus (plant)
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| Species: |
hyemalis
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Thymus hyemalis, also known as winter thyme, is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which includes many well-known herbs like mint. This plant is only found in a specific part of the world: southeast Spain. One interesting thing about winter thyme is that the oils inside it change depending on the season!
Contents
What is Winter Thyme?
Winter thyme is a small, fragrant plant. It is part of the Thymus group, which includes many types of thyme used in cooking and medicine. Like other thymes, it has tiny leaves and often grows close to the ground.
Where Does Winter Thyme Grow?
This plant is endemic to southeast Spain. This means it naturally grows only in that area and nowhere else in the world. It thrives in the dry, sunny conditions found in this part of Spain.
What Makes It Special?
One unique feature of Thymus hyemalis is its volatile oil. Volatile oils are natural oils that give plants their smell and flavor. For winter thyme, the exact mix of these oils changes throughout the year. This seasonal change might help the plant adapt to different weather conditions.
Different Kinds of Winter Thyme
Scientists have found that there are two main types, or subspecies, of winter thyme. They are:
- Thymus hyemalis subspecies hyemalis
- Thymus hyemalis subspecies millefloris – This one is found specifically near Almería in Spain.
These subspecies are very similar but have small differences. These differences are often in their genetic makeup or how they look.
See also
In Spanish: Thymus hyemalis para niños
