Lamiaceae
Thymus

Thymus vulgaris L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 591 (1753)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is SW. Europe, SE. Italy. It is a subshrub and grows primarily in the temperate biome. It is used as a poison and a medicine, has environmental uses and for food.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/203348/2764289

Conservation
LC - least concern
[IUCN]

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular
orégano, tomillo
[UNAL]

Lamiaceae (Labiatae), A.J. Paton, G. Bramley, O. Ryding, R.M. Polhill, Y.B. Harvey, M. Iwarsson, F. Willis, P.B. Phillipson, K. Balkwill, C.W. Lukhoba, D.F. Otieno, & R.M. Harley. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2009

Note
A native of the Mediterranean cultivated as a culinary herb
Morphology General Habit
Small subshrub to 0.3 m tall with stems pubescent all round
Morphology Leaves
Leaves sessile, clustered in axils, 3–8 × 0.5–2.5 mm, entire, revolute
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence lax, condensed towards apex with verticils 4–10-flowered
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx 3–4 mm long, campanulate; throat bearded; posterior lip with 3 deltoid teeth; anterior lip with 2 subulate teeth
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white to pink, 4–5 mm long, funnel-shaped, 2-lipped
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 4, ascending under posterior lip
[FTEA]

Distribution
Biogeografic region: Andean. Elevation range: 2300–3800 m a.s.l. Cultivated in Colombia. Colombian departments: Bogotá DC, Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Santander, Valle del Cauca.
Habit
Subshrub.
Conservation
IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC.
Ecology
Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, shrubland, native grassland, artificial - terrestrial.
[UPFC]

The Useful Plants of Boyacá project

Ecology
Alt. 2300 - 3800 m.
Distribution
Cultivated in Colombia.
Conservation
Not Evaluated.
Morphology General Habit
Subshrub.
[UPB]

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution
Cultivada en Colombia; Alt. 2300 - 3800 m.; Andes.
Morphology General Habit
Subarbusto
[CPLC]

Uses

Use Environmental
Environmental uses.
Use Food
Used for food.
Use Materials
Used as material.
Use Medicines
Medical uses.
Use Poisons
Poisons.
[UPFC]

Use Medicines Unspecified Medicinal Disorders
Medicinal (State of the World's Plants 2016, Instituto Humboldt 2014).
Use Food
Food (Granados-Tochoy et al. 2007).
Use Food Food Additives
Used as a condiment on meats (Florez-Cárdenas et al. 2010).
Use Medicines Digestive System Disorders
Leaves - Used in liquid medicines (Florez-Cárdenas et al. 2010).
Use Medicines Respiratory System Disorders
Leaves - Used in liquid medicines in the treatment of bronchitis (Lagos-López 2007, Florez-Cárdenas et al. 2010). Leaves - Used in liquid medicines (Lagos-López 2007, Florez-Cárdenas et al. 2010).
Use Medicines Skin or Subcutaneous Cellular Tissue Disorders
Leaves - Used as an antiseptic (Florez-Cárdenas et al. 2010).
[UPB]

Common Names

English
Thyme
Spanish
Tomillo, tremocillo.

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Catálogo de Plantas y Líquenes de Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • IUCN Categories

    • IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images

  • Universidad Nacional de Colombia

    • ColPlantA database
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Useful Plants and Fungi of Colombia

    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Useful Plants of Boyacá Project

    • ColPlantA database
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/