General description:
The genus Thymus L. is one of the most important genera of the Labiatae (Lamiaceae) family. It belongs to the tribe Menthae of the subfamily Nepetoideae. The most closely related genera are Origanum L., Satureja L., Micromeria L. and Thymbra L.
Biogeographically, the circum-Mediterranean countries are considered to be centre of the genus. However it occurs widely in the Old World with native populations and in Northern America as an introduced genus.
Taxonomic name: