Thymus caespititius Brot.

A procumbent subshrub of compact habit. Leaves up to 3⁄8 in. long, and 1⁄16 in. wide, dark green, fleshy, glabrous except for some marginal hairs near the base. Flowering stems erect, to about 21⁄2 in. long. Inflorescence oblong, lax, few flowered. Calyx much shorter than the corolla, campanulate; upper teeth very small, lower almost as broad as long, fleshy, glabrous except at the margin. Corolla 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 in. long, lilac-pink.

Native of the western Iberian peninsula, Madeira, and of the Azores, whence it was introduced early in the 19th century. Once confused with T. serpyllum it is distinct in fleshy leaves, the longer corolla and especially in the broad lower teeth of the calyx. It flowers in late summer and forms small hummocks.