Thymus vulgaris L. subsp. aestivus (Reut.) A. Bolòs & O. Bolòs

Spice Flower In the field

Family: LABIATAE (LAMIACEAE)

Genus: Thymus

Catalan common name: Farigola. Frígola. Timó.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Castelló. València.

Distribution in the islands: Ibiza.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean (Balearic)

Uses and properties: Aromatic. Edible or foodstuffs. Medicinal.

Plants protected by law: País Valencià Catalogue.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Chameophyte.

Habitats: Pine wood and shrubland with rosemary and thyme garigue. Pine woodlands and garriques.

Characteristics: Small bush with lancoliolate or linear leaves that are very aromatic, especially when crushed betwen the fingers. Flowers are pink in colour and appear dispersely throughout the plant. This species inhabits the island of Eivissa where it coincides with other similar aromatic species; for example Micromeria inodora, which has very small leaves with a slight, almost absent aroma, and Thymbra capitata, which has its leaves grouped in glomerules at the top of the stems, flowers at the start of summer and lives in the bearberry briar and sage patches of Eivissa.