Thymus pulegioides, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1972, Flora Europaea. Volume 3. Diapensiacea to Myoporaceae, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 182

61. T. pulegioides L. , Sp. Pl. 592 (1753)

( T. alpestris auct., non Tausch ex A. Kerner, T. chamaedrys Fries , T. enervius Klokov , T. froelichianus Opiz , T. montanus Waldst. & Kit. , non Crantz, T. serpyllum subsp. carniolicus (Borbas) Lyka , subsp. chamaedrys (Fries) Vollmann , subsp. effusus (Host) Lyka , subsp. montanus Arcangeli & subsp. parviflorus (Opiz ex H. Braun) Lyka , T. ucrainicus Klokov & Schost. ).

Plant suberect to procumbent, somewhat woody at base; long, creeping, non-flowering branches absent. Flowering stems up to 25(=40) cm, sometimes branched, 4-angled, hairy on the angles only. Leaves up to 18 x 10 mm, more or less equal, ovate or oblong-lanceolate, obtuse, usually cuneate and usually ciliate at base, petiolate; marginal vein absent. Inflorescence usually interrupted at least below. Bracts similar to the leaves. Calyx 3-4- mm, campanulate; upper teeth usually longer than wide, at least £ as long as calyx, usually ciliate. Corolla c. 6 mm, pink-purple. In = 28, 30. Europe, except parts of the north and east and many of the islands. Al Au Be Br Bu Cz Da Ga Ge Gr?Hb He Ho Hs Hu It Ju Lu No Po Rm Rs (B, C, W) Si Su?Tu [?Fa Fe?Is?Rs (N)].

Very variable. Several of the character-combinations given the rank of species or subspecies possess a distinct geographical distribution. However the total variation has been found to be so continuous and reticulate that attempts to make subspecific divisions seem premature, if not impossible.