SATUREJA THYMBRA

Family and Genus:- See- LABIATAE

Common Names:- Satureja

Homotypic Synonyms:- Clinopodium thymbra, Micromeria thymbra.

Meaning:- Satureja (L) A name used by the Roman naturalist and philosopher

Pliny for a culinary herb, from the Arabic, sattur, meaning savory.

Thymbra (L) A name used by the Roman naturalist and philosopher

Pliny, for a savoury, thyme-like plant.

General description:- An aromatic, thyme-like dwarf shrub, much-branched and

grey with hairs.

Stems:-

1) To 35 cm tall.

Leaves:-

1) 9-14 mm, linear to narrowly obovate, acute, scabrid, gland-dotted.

Flowers:-

1) Verticillasters, many-flowered, dense, subglobose, distinctly separated;

2) Floral leaves, equalling verticillasters.

3) Bracts, equalling the verticillasters;

a) bracteoles, conspicuous, acuminate, ± equalling the calyx.

4) Calyx, 4-7 mm, with long, patent, white hairs, regular, pilose;

a) teeth, acute or acuminate. slightly shorter than the tube.

5) Corolla, 8-12 mm, usually rose-pink.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes, 4.

Key features:-

1) Calyx-teeth, acute or acuminate.

2) Bracteoles conspicuous, acuminate, ± equalling the calyx

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- A common constituent of open dry shrubby vegetation, sometimes in

open woodland and olive groves. 0-1900.

Distribution:- Sardinia, Balkans, Crete and the E Mediterranean, including Cyprus.

Widespread and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Apr-June and occasionally at other times

Photos by:- Steve Lenton