About Thymus capitellatus Hoffmanns. & Link
Thymus capitellatus Hoffmanns. & Link is an erect subshrub that reaches up to 50 cm (20 in) in height. It produces long, graceful stems that are quadrangular in cross-section and covered in very short hairs. Its leaves measure 3.5 mm–5.5 mm × 1 mm–2 mm (0.138 in–0.217 in × 0.039 in–0.079 in), have a tomentose underside, bear yellowish spheroidal glands, and are petiolated. The inflorescence measures 8–17 mm (0.31–0.67 in) in length. The corolla can grow up to 8 mm (0.31 in) long, and is white or cream in color. This species has purple stamens, with a chromosome count of n = 15. Thymus capitellatus is native to southwest Portugal, and is particularly abundant around the Tagus Estuary and Sado Estuary. It grows in moorlands, xerophilic scrub (including cistus and heaths), and sometimes occurs in pine, eucalyptus and acacia forests. It colonizes sandy acid soils of dune origin, and is most commonly found on paleodunes, which are stabilized dunes.
