The species of September 2013

Name: Thymus
Scientific name: Coridothymus capitatus|
Family: Lamiaceae

Description
Multi-branched aromatic shrub with a height of up to 50cm. Its young shoots are hairy and whitish. Its leaves are simple, on the contrary, superficial, linear and visibly glandular. Its flowers are hermaphroditic and arranged in dense overhead heads. Bracts are deciduous or linear. It also has a two-sided cover with a flat back and a two-sided crown, cone-shaped, pink-purple and sometimes white.

Spreading
A native species of Cyprus and its presence has been recorded in Akamas, in the Troodos mountain range, Akrotiri, Mesaoria, the Pentadaktylos mountain range and Karpasia. It is worth mentioning that it is found in all Mediterranean countries.

Habitat
The Thymus is very common on rocky slopes, on steep rocky shores, in bushes, in forests and on sand dunes.

Biology
It usually multiplies with sperm and shows summer flowering. Due to its minimal requirements it can be grown in all types of soils.

Value and uses
Coridothymus capitatus occupies an important place among the plants with medicinal and aromatic properties and their properties have been recognized since antiquity. It is also an excellent beekeeping plant. Its straight and thin shoots can be used in basket weaving to make sweepers. It is also of great ecological value as it protects the soil from erosion.

Sources:  
[1] «Τα Φυτά στην Παράδοση της Κύπρου», Υλικό Περιβαλλοντικής Εκπαίδευσης ΚΥΚΠΕΕ.
[2] Τσιντίδης, Τ., Χατζηκυριάκου, Γ., Χριστοδούλου, Χ. (2002). Δέντρα και Θάμνοι στην Κύπρο. Λευκωσία: Ίδρυμα Α.Γ. Λεβέντη – Φιλοδασικός Σύνδεσμος Κύπρου.
[3] Χατζηκυριάκου, Γ., (2011). Αρωματικά και αρτυματικά φυτά της Κύπρου από την αρχαιότητα μέχρι σήμερα. Λευκωσία: Πολιτιστικό Ίδρυμα Τράπεζας Κύπρου

Image source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thymus_capitatus
© Lapplaender