Acinos alpinus
Encyclopedia
Rock thyme is a perennial plant of the Lamiaceae
family. Synonyms include Calamintha alpina (L.) Lam., Thymus alpinus (L.), and Satureja alpina (L.). There are two subspecies of rock thyme: A. alpinus meriodionalis, with smaller flowers; and A. alpinus majoranifolius, which grows in smaller bunches. Rock thyme is sometimes used in pharmacology for its diaphoretic and antipyretic
properties. In addition, it can be brewed and served as tea
.
Rock thyme is an herbaceous plant averaging between 40 and 50 centimeters in height. The flowers are hermaphroditic
; that is, they have both male and female
reproductive systems. According to the Raunkiær system of categorizing life forms, rock thyme is considered to be a chamaephyte, specifically a chamaephyte sufruticosos.
The plant has a woody, fuzz-covered stem. Its leaves grow in symmetrical
pairs and are connected to the stem by a thin petiole
. Their shapes range from ovoid
to lanceolates
of 5 to 15 millimeters in length.
The flowers consist of whorled
inflorescence
s, consisting of clusters of 3 to 8 flowers. They range from 15 to 20 mm in length, and are generally violet
in color. Depending on altitude, rock thyme flowers between May and August. Its fruit is schizocarp
al, and splits into four equal portions upon reaching maturity.).
It is anchored to the ground by a taproot
and a network of smaller secondary roots.
.
In Italy
, rock thyme can be found in most areas whose altitude is between 900 and 2600 meters above sea level
. It is found in open fields, rock fissure
s, and areas with little fertile soil.
Lamiaceae
The mints, taxonomically known as Lamiaceae or Labiatae, are a family of flowering plants. They have traditionally been considered closely related to Verbenaceae, but in the 1990s, phylogenetic studies suggested that many genera classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae...
family. Synonyms include Calamintha alpina (L.) Lam., Thymus alpinus (L.), and Satureja alpina (L.). There are two subspecies of rock thyme: A. alpinus meriodionalis, with smaller flowers; and A. alpinus majoranifolius, which grows in smaller bunches. Rock thyme is sometimes used in pharmacology for its diaphoretic and antipyretic
Antipyretic
Antipyretics ; an-tee-pahy-ret-iks; from the Greek anti, against, and pyreticus, are drugs or herbs that reduce fever. Normally, they will not lower body temperature if one does not have a fever. Antipyretics cause the hypothalamus to override an interleukin-induced increase in temperature...
properties. In addition, it can be brewed and served as tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
.
Morphology
Plant sexuality
Plant sexuality covers the wide variety of sexual reproduction systems found across the plant kingdom. This article describes morphological aspects of sexual reproduction of plants....
; that is, they have both male and female
Gynoecium
Gynoecium is most commonly used as a collective term for all carpels in a flower. A carpel is the ovule and seed producing reproductive organ in flowering plants. Carpels are derived from ovule-bearing leaves which evolved to form a closed structure containing the ovules...
reproductive systems. According to the Raunkiær system of categorizing life forms, rock thyme is considered to be a chamaephyte, specifically a chamaephyte sufruticosos.
The plant has a woody, fuzz-covered stem. Its leaves grow in symmetrical
Symmetry
Symmetry generally conveys two primary meanings. The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically pleasing proportionality and balance; such that it reflects beauty or perfection...
pairs and are connected to the stem by a thin petiole
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
. Their shapes range from ovoid
Oval
An oval is any curve resembling an egg or an ellipse, such as a Cassini oval. The term does not have a precise mathematical definition except in one area oval , but it may also refer to:* A sporting arena of oval shape** a cricket field...
to lanceolates
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
of 5 to 15 millimeters in length.
The flowers consist of whorled
Whorl (botany)
In botany, a whorl is an arrangement of sepals, petals, leaves, or branches in which all the parts are attached at the same point and surround or wrap around the stem.There are four whorls in a general flower...
inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s, consisting of clusters of 3 to 8 flowers. They range from 15 to 20 mm in length, and are generally violet
Violet (color)
As the name of a color, violet is synonymous with a bluish purple, when the word "purple" is used in the common English language sense of any color between blue and red, not including either blue or red...
in color. Depending on altitude, rock thyme flowers between May and August. Its fruit is schizocarp
Schizocarp
A schizocarp is a dry fruit that develops from multiple carpels. When mature it splits up into mericarps. Mericarps are often 1-seeded as in, for example, Malva, Malvastrum, and Sida...
al, and splits into four equal portions upon reaching maturity.).
It is anchored to the ground by a taproot
Taproot
A taproot is an enlarged, somewhat straight to tapering plant root that grows vertically downward. It forms a center from which other roots sprout laterally.Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant...
and a network of smaller secondary roots.
Habitat
The plant originates from the mountains of Southern EuropeSouthern Europe
The term Southern Europe, at its most general definition, is used to mean "all countries in the south of Europe". However, the concept, at different times, has had different meanings, providing additional political, linguistic and cultural context to the definition in addition to the typical...
.
In Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, rock thyme can be found in most areas whose altitude is between 900 and 2600 meters above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
. It is found in open fields, rock fissure
Fissure
In anatomy, a fissure is a groove, natural division, deep furrow, elongated cleft, or tear in various parts of the body.-Brain:...
s, and areas with little fertile soil.