Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Lamiales Bromhead
Family
Labiatae Juss.
Genus
Acinos Mill.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Acinos arvensis (Lam.) Dandy (1946)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Calamintha arvensis Lam., Fl. Franç. 2, 394 (1779)
  • ≡ Thymus acinos L. (1753)
  • ≡ Satureja acinos (L.) Scheele (1843)
  • = Calamintha acinos (L.) Clairv.
  • = Acinos thymoides Moench, Methodus (Moench) 407 (1794)
Vernacular Name(s):
Basil thyme; Mother of thyme; Mother-of-thyme
 Description

Hairy (sometimes densely so) annual or short-lived perennial. Stems ascending to c. 20 cm, often purplish. Lvs petiolate or subsessile. Lamina 7–15 × 3–5 mm, elliptic or rhombic-ovate, entire or distantly serrulate, becoming almost glabrous below; base narrow-cuneate; apex acute or subacute. Fls shortly pedicellate, forming a loose terminal infl. of a few whorls. Calyx c. 5 mm long; tube constricted near the middle, gibbous below; nerves white-pilose; teeth subulate, 1–1.5 mm long, ciliate, much < tube. Corolla 7–9 mm long to apex of upper lip, densely puberulent outside, mauve or violet with white patch on lower lip; upper lip curving forward, emarginate; lower lip c. 1.5 mm long, very broad. Nutlets 1.2–1.5 mm long, obscurely angled.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Exotic
 Phenology

Flowering: Dec.–Feb.

 Bibliography
Lamarck, J.-B. de Monet de 1779: Flore françoise, ou Description succincte de toutes les plantes qui croissent naturellement en France, disposée suivant une nouvelle méthode d'analyse.... T. 2 / par M. le chevalier de Lamarck. Vol. 2. H. Agasse, Paris.
Moench, C. 1794: Methodus plantas horti botanici et agri Marburgensis. Officina Nova Libraria Academiae, Marburg.