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| Online Flora of the Maltese Islands by Stephen Mifsud |
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Thymbra capitata (Mediterranean Thyme) |
Thymbra capitata (LAMIACEAE.)
Images for this profile are taken from the Maltese Islands after year 2000.
Website launch: Oct-2002
Taxonomic update: Aug-2026
Code update: Jul-2026 |
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| Nomenclature and General Information |
Species name : |
Thymbra capitata(L.) Cav.
Published in Elench. Pl. Horti Matr. : 37 (1803) |
Synonyms :
(basionym or principal syn.) |
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Plant Family : |
Lamiaceae Lindl. (The Mint Family) Previously included in Labiatae
36 species from the Lamiaceae family are recorded from the Maltese Islands. | English name(s) : | Mediterranean Thyme, Headed Savory, Conhead Thyme |
Maltese name(s) : |
Sagħtar |
Status for Malta : |
Indigenous. Present on the Maltese islands before man |
Frequency : |
Very Common Common Frequent Scarce Rare Very rare Extinct |
Growth form : |
Germination type [info]: Dicotyledon
Raunkiaer lifeform [info]: Chameophyte ( small woody shrubs with vegetative buds well above the ground ) |
Legal Protection : |
Protected by law: Schedule III of [S.L. 549.44] (Conservation requires the designation of SAC) |
Red List (1989) : |
Threatened status for the Maltese Islands and has been listed in the Red Data Book (1st ed.) |
Flowering Time : |
May – July |
Colour of Flowers: |
Violet |
Toxicity: |
Not particularly toxic |
Name Derivation : |
Thymbra: Derived from Thymus - an ancient Greek word for several aromatic herbs and sub-shrubs found in the Mediterranean. One source says it means to fumigate while another gives it as a Greek word for courage. (Greek origin); 2. Further Info: [1].
capitata: Meaning capitate or head-like and refers to the way the flowers are arranged in dense head-like clusters. (Latin origin)
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Planting in rural areas : |
Encouraged to be planted in the wild that is in rural areas including ODZ. |
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Description, Habitat and Distribution | |
Botanical Description |
Dwarf shrub 20-50(-150) cm, with ascending to erect woody branches bearing axillary leaf-clusters (often the only leaves during the dry season). Leaves of long shoots 6-10 × 1-1·2 mm, sessile, linear, acute, subglabrous, sparsely ciliate at base; lateral veins not visible. Inflorescence oblong-conical; bracts c. 6 × 2 mm, imbricate, ovate to lanceolate, greenish, ciliate; bracteoles c. 6 mm, similar to the leaves. Calyx about 5 mm, the upper lip shorter than the lower, all the teeth ciliate. Corolla up to 10 mm, purplish-pink,the upper lip bifid. | |
Habitat in Europe |
Calcicole in garigue and rocky ground
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Preferred habitat in Malta |
Calciferous plant found in rocky arid places such as garigue and tops of several valleys.
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Chromosome number(s) |
2n=30 | |
Distributional range |
Mediterranean region and Portugal
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Distributional maps from various sources |
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Occurrences in Europe
(from Flora Europaea till 1993) |
Albania, the Balaeric Islands, Corse, Crete, Greece, Spain (incl. Andorra but excl. the Balaerics), Italy (mainland, excl. Sicily and Sardinia), ex-Jugoslavia, Portugal, Sardinia, Sicily and/or Malta, Turkey (European part)
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Occurrences in Europe
(from Euro+Med Checklist till 2024)
Country codes
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AE(G) Ag Al Bl Co Cr Cy Eg Gr Hs IJ It Ju Li LS Lu Ma Sa Si Tn Tu(A E)
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| Links & Further literature
(0 papers) |
Google Web |
Google Images |
Google Scholar |
Research Gate |
Wikipedia |
JSTOR |
GBIF |
Med Checklist |
Cat. of Life |
EoL |
IPNI |
World Flora Online |
Plants of the World Online |
Vienna Virt. Herb. |
RBGE Herbarium |
KEW Herbarium |
MNHN |
Garden Database |
IUCN |
TROPICOS |
Kindly Email if there are papers and publications about local
studies or information about this species to be included in the list above.
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Sales and Donations
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Sales of seeds of wild plant from Malta: Seeds of selected wild plant species may be available for academic studies, research purposes, or personal use. Please note that not all species can be supplied or exported. Availability is subject to seasonal seed production, stock levels, and applicable regulations, including Maltese legislation and CITES requirements where relevant. Protected and endemic species cannot be sold (at least without the relevant environmental permits).
How it works: First, submit a quotation request by completing the Online Quotation Form (link provided on the right side of this table). Once your request has been reviewed, you will receive confirmation regarding seed availability, export eligibility (where applicable), pricing, and any transport charges. Payments are accepted by Revolut, bank transfer (IBAN), or PayPal only; credit and debit card payments are not accepted.
Please note that local orders are currently not being accepted. Seek Maltese nurseries and NGOs for local orders.
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Online Quotation (Seeds)
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Online Purchase (Images)
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Atlas Flora Europaea
GBIF Distribution Map
WFO Distribution map
_0359.jpg "Thymbra capitata / Mediterranean Thyme / Sagħtar")
