Thymus (genus) - Classification

Classification

There has been a considerable amount of confusion in the naming of thymes. Many nurseries use common names rather than the binomial name, which can lead to confusion. For example golden thyme, lemon thyme and creeping thyme can all refer to more than one cultivar. There is some confusion over the naming and taxonomy of some species, and Margaret Easter has compiled a list of synonyms for cultivated species and cultivars.

The commonest classification is that used by Jalas, in eight sections:

• Micantes: Iberian Peninsula and north Africa, includes T. caespititius
• Mastichina: Iberian Peninsula, includes T. mastichina
• Piperella: Monotypic section confined to the autonomous community of Valencia, Spain
• Teucrioides: Balkan Peninsula
• Pseudothymbra: Iberian Peninsula and north Africa, includes T. cephalotos, T. longiflorus and T. membranaceus
• Thymus: Western Mediterranean region, includes T. camphoratus, T. carnosus, T. hyemalis, T. vulgaris and T. zygis
• Hyphodromi: Throughout the Mediterranean region, includes T. cilicicus and T. comptus
• Serpyllum: The largest section, throughout whole region, apart from Madeira and Azores, includes T. comosus, T. doerfleri, T. herba-barona, T. longicaulis, T. pannonicus, T. praecox, T. pulegioides, T. quinquecostatus, T. richardii, T. serpyllum, T. sibthorpii and T. thracicus