Summer savory

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• summer savory
• summer thyme
• savory

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Clinopodium hortense
• Clinopodium pachyphyllum
• Satureja zuvandica
• Satureja filicaulis
• Satureja laxiflora subsp. zuvandica
• Satureja litwinowii
• Satureja officinarum
• Thymus cunila
• Satureja pachyphylla
• Satureja brachiata
• Satureja altaica
• Satureja hortensis var. distans

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further organized into the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is completed within the genus Satureja.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions of the European continent. In Middle Europe, its presence is established within the territories of Germany as well as the Czechia-Slovakia region. Moving toward the Mediterranean, the species can be found throughout various parts of Southwestern Europe. Specifically, it inhabits the islands of the Baleares and the island of Corse. Finally, its geographical reach extends across the mainland of France within the Southwestern European zone.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of SaturEjia hortensis is characterized by its specialized preference for high-altitude environments, specifically occupying coniform peaks. This plant is strategically adapted to these distinct topographic features, which define its primary habitat. Its distribution is vertically constrained, thriving within a specific altitudinal niche that reaches an elevational range maximum of 1500 m AMSL. This upper limit suggests a dependency on the unique microclimates and soil compositions found at these specific heights on conical mountain summits.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Habitat :

coniform peaks

Life history

The life history of Saturajet hortensis is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire biological development—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. In terms of its ecological classification and structural growth, it is categorized as a therophyte, a life form that survives unfavorable environmental conditions by existing as a seed, only emerging as a vegetative organism when conditions become favorable. This strategy allows the plant to occupy ephemeral niches and rapidly exploit available resources before returning to a dormant seed state at the end of its seasonal cycle.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Saturaja hortensis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. The plant is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, functioning as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, it is a self-supporting species and does not exhibit climbing or vining behaviors. The plant maintains a relatively low stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0.1 m to a maximum of 0.35 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.142 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.35 m

Plant height mean:

0.142 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Saturaja hortensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than capturing prey. Morphologically, its leaf architecture is defined by a mean leaf size of 0.56 cm², contributing to a specific leaf area (SLA) with a mean value of 273.6 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf density and resource allocation patterns.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

0.56 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

273.6 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Saturjexa hortensis is characterized by a specialized biological cycle that relies heavily on sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is entirely absent. The flowering period for this species is concentrated in the month of July, marking a specific temporal window for its reproductive activity. During this time, the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The production of seeds is defined by a very small mass, with a mean weight of approximately 0.00053075 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.000327 g to a maximum of 0.0006 g. Following fertilization, the dispersal of these seeds follows an anthropochorous syndrome, indicating that their movement and spread are primarily aided by human activity.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

6e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00053075 g

Seed mass min:

0.000327 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Satureja hortensis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Satureja hortensis has 77 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CARVACROL, Flavonoids, P-CYMENE, rosmarinic acid, THYMOL.

CARVACROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. PeerJ
3. Natural product research
4. BMC plant biology
5. Biology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Bioorganic chemistry
5. Frontiers in pharmacology

P-CYMENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. BMC plant biology
3. Scientific reports
4. Iranian journal of microbiology
5. PloS one

rosmarinic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Scientific reports
4. Frontiers in pharmacology
5. 3 Biotech

THYMOL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biology
3. Iranian journal of microbiology

Alpha terpinene

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

EO

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)

GAMMA-TERPINENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

LIMONENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. 3 Biotech

polyphenols

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Satureja hortensis has 464 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Analgesic, Anticancer.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of biological macromolecules
3. Genes
4. Bioorganic chemistry
5. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Genes
4. Bioorganic chemistry
5. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Iranian journal of microbiology
3. Journal of acupuncture and meridian studies

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antidepressant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii

Anxiolytic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Advances in gerontology = Uspekhi gerontologii

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

(-)-Chronotropic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Satureja hortensis has 23 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Alzheimer's disease, Aspergillus fumigatus.

Escherichia coli

1. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
3. Iranian journal of microbiology

Candida albicans

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
2. Integrative medicine research

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Alzheimer's disease

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Aspergillus fumigatus

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Bacillus subtilis

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Chenopodium album

1. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

Hela cells

1. Iranian journal of cancer prevention

Jurkat cells

1. Iranian journal of cancer prevention

Proteus vulgaris

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Preparations

Satureja hortensis has 9 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include H2, Seed Oil, dichloromethane fraction, essential oil, essential oils.

H2

1. Parasites & vectors

Seed oil

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Dichloromethane fraction

1. Journal of immunoassay & immunochemistry

Essential oil

1. Iranian journal of microbiology

Essential oils

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Extract

1. Iranian journal of basic medical sciences

Hexane fraction

1. Journal of immunoassay & immunochemistry

Hydroalcoholic extracts

1. Scientific reports

Methanol extracts

1. Iranian journal of cancer prevention