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'''Thymbra spicata''', also commonly known as '''spiked savoury''', '''spiked thymbra''' and '''thyme spike''', is a perennial-green dwarf shrub of the ] ], native to ], ], ], ], ], ] (]), ], ] and ], having erect stems bearing strongly scented leaves, rich in ]s such as ], ] (CVL) and different ]s.<ref>, ]</ref> '''Thymbra spicata''', also commonly known as '''spiked savoury''', '''spiked thymbra''', '''thyme spike''' and '''donkey hyssop''', is a perennial-green dwarf shrub of the ] ], native to ], ], ], ], ], ] (]), ], ] and ], having erect stems bearing strongly scented leaves, rich in ]s such as ], ] (CVL) and different ]s.<ref>, ]</ref>
] ]


==Description== ==Description==
''Thymbra spicata'' resembles '']'' in the shape and color of its leaves (the former tending to be more linear and arranged in a crisscross pattern), and is quite close to it in the color, size, and shape of its flowers.<ref name="Hareubeni"/> However, the flowers in this shrub are not arranged in nest-like clusters, as in ''Satureja thymbra'', with gaps between them in leaps, but are crowded together in a dense ] at the top of the stem.<ref name="Hareubeni">{{Harvnb|Hareubeni|Hareubeni|1949|pp=43–44}}</ref> The ] of the plant is extremely long and narrow (9{{ndash}}12 mm long). The plant reaches a height of 20{{ndash}}30 cm.<ref name="Shmida">{{Harvnb|Shmida|2005|p=349}}, s.v. Thymbra spicata</ref> ''Thymbra spicata'' resembles '']'' in the shape and color of its leaves (the former tending to be more ] and arranged in a crisscross pattern), and is quite close to it in the color, size, and shape of its flowers.<ref name="Hareubeni"/> However, the flowers in this shrub are not arranged in nest-like clusters, as in ''Satureja thymbra'', with gaps between them in leaps, but are crowded together in a dense ] at the top of the stem.<ref name="Hareubeni">{{Harvnb|Hareubeni|Hareubeni|1949|pp=43–44}}</ref> The ] of the plant is extremely long and narrow, {{convert|9|-|12|mm|in|abbr=on|frac=8}} long. The plant reaches a height of 20{{ndash}}30 cm.<ref name="Shmida">{{Harvnb|Shmida|2005|p=349}}, s.v. Thymbra spicata</ref>


The leaves are covered with tiny glandular hairs, and their edges have long ].<ref name="Shmida"/> The flowers are bright lilac in color, blossoming between April and June (in Israel) and between June and August (in Turkey). The flowers are arranged at the ends of the stems in dense oval inflorescences that lengthen as they ripen.<ref name="Shmida"/> The plant's leaf glands secrete ]s, which give to ''Thymbra spicata'' its pungent odor.<ref name="Shmida"/> For this reason, the plant is used as a spice (some add it to the ] ]), but it is too pungent for making tea.<ref name="Shmida"/> The leaves are covered with tiny glandular hairs, and their edges have long ].<ref name="Shmida"/> The flowers are bright lilac in color, blossoming between April and June (in Israel) and between June and August (in Turkey). The flowers are arranged at the ends of the stems in dense oval inflorescences that lengthen as they ripen.<ref name="Shmida"/> The plant's leaf glands secrete ]s, which give to ''Thymbra spicata'' its pungent odor.<ref name="Shmida"/> For this reason, the plant is used as a spice (some add it to the ] ]), but it is too pungent for making tea.<ref name="Shmida"/>


In Arabic, the plant is known as ''za'tar sebele'' ({{Script/Arabic|زعتر سبلة}}), while others call it ''za'tar farsi'' ({{Script/Arabic|زعتر فارسي}}). In Arabic, the plant is known as ''za'tar sebele'' ({{Script/Arabic|زعتر سبلة}}), while others call it ''za'tar farsi'' ({{Script/Arabic|زعتر فارسي}}). Although the plant is protected under Israeli law,<ref name="Shmida"/> the leaves of the plant are sometimes foraged by the local population between April and June, in preparation for making a spice mixture.<ref>{{Harvnb|Tesdell|2018|p=}}</ref>


==Habitat== ==Habitat==
]s are the natural habitat of ''Thymbra spicata''. The plant is typical of exposed ] and ] patches in the mountains, where it accompanies ] or dominates independent patches.<ref name="Shmida"/> It prefers dry sunny hillsides and high dry meadows. In Israel, the plant is protected under Israeli law.<ref name="Shmida"/> ]s are the natural habitat of ''Thymbra spicata''. The plant is typical of exposed ] and ] patches in the mountains, where it accompanies ] or dominates independent patches.<ref name="Shmida"/> It prefers dry sunny hillsides and high dry meadows.


==Anti-bacterial properties== ==Anti-bacterial properties==
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*{{cite journal |last1=Hareubeni |first=Efraim |last2=Hareubeni |first2=Hanna |title=The Hyssops: The Roman Hyssop, the Wild one, and the Blue one|journal=] |volume=21 |issue=1|publisher=Mandel Institute for Jewish Studies |pages=40–46 |date=1949 |language=he |jstor=23585798}} *{{cite journal |last1=Hareubeni |first=Efraim |last2=Hareubeni |first2=Hanna |title=The Hyssops: The Roman Hyssop, the Wild one, and the Blue one|journal=] |volume=21 |issue=1|publisher=Mandel Institute for Jewish Studies |pages=40–46 |date=1949 |language=he |jstor=23585798}}
*{{cite book |last=Shmida |first=Avi |title=MAPA's Dictionary of Plants and Flowers in Israel |publisher=MAPA Publishers |location=Tel-Aviv|year=2005 |language=he|oclc=716569354}} *{{cite book |last=Shmida |first=Avi |title=MAPA's Dictionary of Plants and Flowers in Israel |publisher=MAPA Publishers |location=Tel-Aviv|year=2005 |language=he|oclc=716569354}}
*{{cite book |editor-last=Tesdell |editor-first=Omar |title=Palestinian Wild Food Plants (النباتات البرية الغذائية الفلسطينية) |publisher=Markaz Khalīl al-Sakākīnī al-Thaqāfī |date=2018 |location=Rāmallāh |language=en, ar |url=https://archive.org/details/palwildfoodplants2018/page/n1/mode/2up |isbn=978-9950-385-72-6 |oclc=1050944096}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Toncer|first1=Ozlem|last2=Karaman |first2=Sengul |last3=Diraz |first3=Emel |last4=Sogut |first4=Tahsin |last5=Kizil |first5=Suleyman |title=Diurnal Variation Effects in Essential Oils of Wild Thyme (Thymbra spicata var. spicata L.) Under Cultivation Conditions|journal=Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants |publisher=Co-published with Har Krishan Bhalla & Sons |volume=19|issue=8 |year=2016|pages=2037{{ndash}}2048 |doi=10.1080/0972060X.2016.1252694|language=en }} *{{cite journal |last1=Toncer|first1=Ozlem|last2=Karaman |first2=Sengul |last3=Diraz |first3=Emel |last4=Sogut |first4=Tahsin |last5=Kizil |first5=Suleyman |title=Diurnal Variation Effects in Essential Oils of Wild Thyme (Thymbra spicata var. spicata L.) Under Cultivation Conditions|journal=Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants |publisher=Co-published with Har Krishan Bhalla & Sons |volume=19|issue=8 |year=2016|pages=2037{{ndash}}2048 |doi=10.1080/0972060X.2016.1252694|language=en }}
{{refend}} {{refend}}

Latest revision as of 13:54, 16 January 2025

Species of plant

Thymbra spicata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Thymbra
Species: T. spicata
Binomial name
Thymbra spicata
L.
Synonyms

Thymbra spicata, also commonly known as spiked savoury, spiked thymbra, thyme spike and donkey hyssop, is a perennial-green dwarf shrub of the family Lamiaceae, native to Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel (Palestine), Jordan, Iraq and Iran, having erect stems bearing strongly scented leaves, rich in polyphenols such as rosmarinic acid, carvacrol (CVL) and different flavonoids.

Freshly picked Thymbra spicata

Description

Thymbra spicata resembles Satureja thymbra in the shape and color of its leaves (the former tending to be more linear and arranged in a crisscross pattern), and is quite close to it in the color, size, and shape of its flowers. However, the flowers in this shrub are not arranged in nest-like clusters, as in Satureja thymbra, with gaps between them in leaps, but are crowded together in a dense raceme at the top of the stem. The petiole of the plant is extremely long and narrow, 9–12 mm (3⁄8–1⁄2 in) long. The plant reaches a height of 20–30 cm.

The leaves are covered with tiny glandular hairs, and their edges have long cilia. The flowers are bright lilac in color, blossoming between April and June (in Israel) and between June and August (in Turkey). The flowers are arranged at the ends of the stems in dense oval inflorescences that lengthen as they ripen. The plant's leaf glands secrete essential oils, which give to Thymbra spicata its pungent odor. For this reason, the plant is used as a spice (some add it to the spice mixture zaatar), but it is too pungent for making tea.

In Arabic, the plant is known as za'tar sebele (زعتر سبلة‎), while others call it za'tar farsi (زعتر فارسي‎). Although the plant is protected under Israeli law, the leaves of the plant are sometimes foraged by the local population between April and June, in preparation for making a spice mixture.

Habitat

Garrigues are the natural habitat of Thymbra spicata. The plant is typical of exposed marlstone and chalk patches in the mountains, where it accompanies thyme or dominates independent patches. It prefers dry sunny hillsides and high dry meadows.

Anti-bacterial properties

The presence of high levels of phenolic components found in the plant are thought to endow the plant with special antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Its practical use and application in agronomy and in medicine, however, has yet to be fully tested and utilized.

References

  1. Hassler, Michael (1994). "World Plants. Synonymic Checklist and Distribution of the World Flora". Version 25.01; last update January 2nd, 2025. www.worldplants.de. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  2. Nutritional and Physiological Properties of Thymbra spicata: In Vitro Study Using Fecal Fermentation and Intestinal Integrity Models, National Library of Medicine
  3. ^ Hareubeni & Hareubeni 1949, pp. 43–44
  4. ^ Shmida 2005, p. 349, s.v. Thymbra spicata
  5. Tesdell 2018, p. 58
  6. Toncer et al. 2016, p. 2037

Bibliography


Taxon identifiers
Thymbra spicata
Categories:
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