thyme

...A small bushy shrub of the Lamiaceae family related to Thymus vulgare (illustration). It is also called Thymus vulgaris or Thyme sieboldii. A typical herb, it has been known in Europe since ancient times, and is especially common in the Mediterranean coastal areas such as France. It was introduced to Japan in the Meiji period. It is less than 30 cm tall, with small, densely packed leaves of 5 to 7 mm on thin branches. In early summer, clusters of small pink-purple or occasionally white flowers bloom at the ends of the branches, and they have a fragrant scent. The young stems and leaves also have a strong fragrance, and the name thyme (power) is said to refer to the strength of the scent, or to come from the fact that the scent gives one energy. ...

*Some of the terminology that mentions "thyme" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…イブキジャコウソウに類縁のあるシソ科の株だちとなる小低木（イラスト）。タチジャコウソウ，キダチヒャクリコウ(木立百里香)ともいう。代表的なハーブの一種で，古くからヨーロッパで知られ，とくにフランスなど地中海沿岸地域に多い。日本へは明治になってから渡来した。丈は30cm足らずで，細い枝に5～7mmの小さい葉を密につける。初夏に枝先に淡紅紫色，まれに白色の小花を群がって咲かせ，芳香がある。また若茎や葉も強い芳香をもち，thyme(力)という名前は，香りの強さをあらわすとも，この香りで力が湧くからだともいわれる。…

※「thyme」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報