This sweet-scented little evergreen grows abundantly on all sandy and
chalky pastures, and is specially common in mountainous districts. It
flowers in summer and early autumn.
The Wild Thyme trails along the ground in a thick tangle of wiry stems
and tiny glossy leaves. From this tangled mat some of the stems stand
upright, and these bear masses of small purple flowers at the top. Other
stems end in a tuft of tiny leaves.
The flowers of the Wild Thyme consist of a narrow purple tube which
stands in a deep green funnel-shaped calyx. The mouth of the flower-tube
is cut in two, and the upper half has a small notch in the centre. The
lower half is divided into three blunt points.
Inside the tube, clinging to its sides, are four stamens. After the
flowers are withered you can see the tip of the seed-vessel coming out
of the mouth of the calyx.
The calyx is funnel-shaped and has many sharp teeth found its mouth, and
there is a fringe of white hairs just inside.
The leaves of the Wild Thyme are very small. Sometimes the edges are
rolled back till they almost meet behind. They are dark green and
glossy, with smooth edges, on which you can see a line of fine hairs.
Plate XXXV: 1. EARLY PURPLE ORCHIS. 2. PURPLE LOOSE-STRIFE.
3. COMMON BUTTERWORT.