Anacharis is a genus of plants of the natural order Hydrocharidaceae, the species of which grow in ponds and streams of fresh water; water-thyme or water-weed. Anacharis Alsinastrum has been introduced from North America into European (including British) rivers, canals, and ponds, and by its rapid growth in dense tangled masses tends to choke them so as materially to impede navigation. Research Anacharis
Breckland or Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is a perennialherb of the family Labiatae, native to Britain where it is very rare, growing only in Breckland, East Anglia, but is more common in Europe where it grows on dry grassland, heaths and sandy soils. Breckland Thyme is woody at the base, with mat- forming rooting branches and ascending or erect, square, hairy flowering stems. The leaves are opposite, linear to elliptic, glandular and almost sessile. The flowers are a violet colour, two-lipped and are arranged in whorls forming dense terminal rounded spikes or heads. The fruit consists of four small nutlets. The flowering stems contain an essential oil which in turn contains the antiseptic substance Thymol. Research Breckland Thyme
Dodder (Cuscuta) is a genus of parasitic plants belonging to the family Convolvulaceae, with branched, climbing, cord-like stems, no leaves, and globular heads of wax-like flowers. The seeds germinate in the ground, and the young plants climb the stems of the adjoining plants, and when they have taken root in them lose their connection with the ground. Dodders inhabit all the temperate and warmer regions of the globe. Two species are natives of England (Cuscuta europoea), with reddish stems and yellowish flowers, found on nettles, vetches, etc, and Cuscuta Epithymum found on furze, thyme, heather, clover, etc. Several exotic species have been introduced with cultivated seeds, as flax and clover. Research Dodder
Garden or Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a perennialherb of the family Labiatae, native to the Mediterranean region, but widely cultivated for its medicinal properties and for use in cooking as a flavouring herb.
Garden Thyme has much-branched, square, ascending stems, which are woody below. The leaves are small, opposite, linear to elliptic, almost sessile, evergreen and have inrolled margins and are white-felted below. The flowers are small, white or pink in colour, two-lipped and are arranged in whorls in the upper leaf axils forming dense terminal spikes. Garden Thyme contains an essential oil which in turn contains the antiseptic substance Thymol.
Garden Thyme has a stronger flavour, and contains higher levels of Thymol than the related Breckland Thyme. Research Garden Thyme
The Large Blue (Maculinea arion) is a very rare, almost extinct large butterfly of the family Lycaenidae found in the temperate regions of Europe and Asia. the caterpillars live on thyme, moving to anthills when they are older where they eat the larvae and pupae of the ants. Research Large Blue
Mosquito is a term applied to any fly of the family Culicidae. The female mosquito has needle-like mouth-parts and sucks blood before laying eggs. Males feed on plant juices. Some mosquitoes carry diseases such as malaria. Human odour in general is attractive to mosquitoes, also lactic acid in sweat and heat at close range. Peoples' varying reactions to mosquito bites depend on the general allergic reaction and not on the degree of the bite; the allergic reaction is caused by the saliva injected from the mosquito's salivary glands to prevent coagulation of the host's blood. Natural mosquito repellents include lavender oil, citronella (from lemongrass), thyme, and eucalyptus oils.
Mosquitoes are remarkable for their quick genetic development, new species develop in around 100 years, as was discovered when mosquitoes became trapped in the London Underground system when it was built, and in 1998 were discovered to have become distinct species developing to feed first on rats and then on humans rather than their usual sheep hosts. Research Mosquito
Thyme (Thymus) is a genus of perennial herbs of the Labiatae family. All the species of Thyme contain essential oils and have very small leaves and flowers. The flowers are generally arranged in whorls and are purple, reddish or white in colour.
Common thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is found wild on British hills and the colder parts of the eastern hemisphere, where it grows flat on the ground. Lemon thyme is regarded as a variety of common thyme and is so named on account of its odour resembling lemon. Garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a taller variety of thyme and is native to the Mediterranean region, being introduced to Britain some time prior to 1548, and easily cultivated in light soil in a sunny location..
From the flower heads of various varieties of thyme a stimulant is obtained which has been used in medicine. The antisepticthymol is distilled from the oil of thyme.
Garden thyme is widely used in cooking as a flavouring herb on account of its aromatic properties. Research Thyme
Abbreviations
Research Anacharis
