Labiatae 

Synonyms: Thymus lanceolatus Benth. var. angustifolius Benth.

Common names: For Thymus capitatus: headed thyme (English); thym de Crete (French); Kretischer Thymian, Kopfsaturei (German); timo di Creta (Italian). For Thymus serpyllum: mother of thyme, creeping thyme, wild thyme (English); Serpolet, thym sauvage, thym serpolet (French); Feldquendel, wilde Thymian, Thymian (German); timo serpillo, timo selvatico, serpillo, timo cedrato, ariganello selvatico (Italian); z‘atar, s‘atar (Arabic).

Description

Suffrutex, more or less shrubby, 30-50 cm. Stems erect, more or less woody. Leaves sessile, rigid, linear-lanceolate, 1-3 cm. Flowers white.

Flowering

June-October.

Habitat

Stony ground, on the mountains and inland.

Distribution

Irano-Turanian.

Use

In the badia: Al-Khatīb: to strengthen the arteries, toothache, liver troubles, stomach.

Field data: antibiotic, cold, expectorant, vermifuge, tonic.

In literature: genito-urinary tract infections (traditional doctors give it for gonorrhea), emmenagogue, diuretic, carminative, digestive, vermifuge, application to burns, swellings and cuts (as an antiseptic), antispasmodic, tonic, headache, stomachic, asthma, bites, stings, gastric disorders, pulmonary diseases, cold (decoction), cough-relieving, expectorant. Z‘atar is a common and widespread component of the Arab and Middle East cuisine. The crushed leaves are eaten together with bread and oil, or mixed with other foodstuffs.

Its use as forage has not been scientifically investigated.

Palatability and importance as forage

Grazed by livestock only in case of drought.

Chemical Data

There is a rich chemical and pharmacological literature on thyme, especially on cultivated thyme. Usually, the variations among the different species concern the mutual concentration of the active principles, but not the principles themselves. In order of quantity, the most important are: carvacrol, thymol, p-cymene.

References

Bedevian, A. K. 1936. Illustrated Polyglottic Dictionary of Plant names. Cairo, Argus D Papazian Presses.

Ozenda, P. 1991. Flore et végétation du Sahara. Paris, Ed. du CNRS.

Edited by: F. Guiso Gallisai
Information taken from: Sincich, F. 2002. Bedouin Traditional Medicine in the Syrian Steppe. Rome, FAO. 114-115.

All pictures and drawings belong to the author.

The presentation of material in this profile do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and has been taken from interviews with the traditional Bedouin doctor, Al-Khatīb and from data collected directly from Bedouins informants.