Seasonal Wild Flowers

Wild Thyme

Thymus polytrichus

Lamiaceae

May to September

It is found throughout the country, except for parts of

the Midlands, East Anglia and the Southeast.

See the BSBI distribution map for Wild Thyme

It grows in short grassland on heaths, limestone, sea

-cliffs and sand dunes, and around rock outcrops.

Wild Thyme is a native, perennial, highly aromatic,

prostrate, mat-forming herb, growing up to 7cm.

Flowers are small (up to 6mm across), rose-purple,

in flowerheads.

The corolla tube is formed from 5 fused petals with

2 petals in the upper lip and 3 in the lower.

There are 4 stamens and 1 style with a forked stigma.

Leaves are small - up to 8mm long and 6mm wide.

Wild Thyme, Powerstock Common, Dorset

Closer view

Flowerhead -stamens

Corolla tube - stamens

Forked stigma

Leaves

Pollination