Thymus serpyllum L., deviating morph (Finland, Lohja, Jantoniemi, 1990). – Image: Harri Harmaja (scanned from dried specimen). – This plant grew in a somewhat shady terrace of a basic rocky hill. That rock houses a most interesting assemblage of plants: Asplenium ´alternifolium (A. septentrionale ´ trichomanes), Asplenium septentrionale, A. trichomanes, Hypericum montanum, Luzula cf. divulgata, Satureja acinos, Silene nutans, S. rupestris, Thymus serpyllum (typical), Verbascum thapsus, Viola rupestris ssp. rupestris. This morph differs from typical T. serpyllum (Lamiaceae) through (i) the leaves tend more clearly to be taller upwards in a branch, (ii) the leaves are broader and the bracts larger, (iii) the leaves have three pairs of veins (vs. two), (iv) the glands of the leaves are distinctly yellow (vs. hyaline or yellowish), and (v) the peduncles are not hairy all around.
Created March 31, 2004.