Thymus praecox

Thymus praecox, commonly known as creeping thyme, is a resilient, low-growing perennial herb celebrated for its aromatic foliage and delicate blossoms. Widely used in traditional medicine for its antiseptic and digestive properties, this versatile plant thrives in sunny landscapes, offering both medicinal benefits and beautiful groundcover for gardens.

  • Scientific name: Thymus praecox
  • Family: Lamiaceae
  • Native range: Europe

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Lamiales and the family Lamiaceae, it is classified under the genus Thymus.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Magnoliidae WCVP
Order Lamiales WCVP
Family Lamiaceae WCVP
Genus Thymus WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Thymus praecox, is referred to by various common names depending on the region and language. In German-speaking areas, it is called Frühblühender Thymian, while in Russia, it is known as Чабрец ранний. In the Netherlands, it is commonly called Kruiptijm, and in Catalonia, it goes by the name Farigola reptant. Additionally, in Denmark, the species is identified as Tidlig Timian.
Language Common Name Source
de Frühblühender Thymian Wikidata
ru Чабрец ранний Wikidata
nl Kruiptijm Wikidata
ca Farigola reptant Wikidata
da Tidlig Timian Wikidata
pl Macierzanka wczesna Wikidata
cs mateřídouška časná Wikidata
is Blóðberg Wikidata
cy Teim gwyllt Wikidata
bg ранна мащерка Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern concentrated across various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the rugged landscapes of the Faroe Islands. The species also inhabits diverse habitats throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Additionally, its range extends to the unique environments of Iceland. Finally, the plant is documented as part of the natural flora in Norway.

Region Area Source
Northern Europe Føroyar WCVP
Northern Europe Great Britain WCVP
Northern Europe Iceland WCVP
Northern Europe Ireland WCVP
Northern Europe Norway WCVP
Northern Europe Sweden WCVP
Middle Europe Austria WCVP
Middle Europe Belgium WCVP
Middle Europe Czechia-Slovakia WCVP
Middle Europe Germany WCVP

Chemicals

Thymus praecox has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include thymol, Sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, gallocatechin, isoquercitrin.

Total chemicals
6
Scientific sources
7

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
thymol 2 ★☆☆☆☆
Sesquiterpenes 1 ★☆☆☆☆
flavonoids 1 ★☆☆☆☆
gallocatechin 1 ★☆☆☆☆
isoquercitrin 1 ★☆☆☆☆
rosmarinic acid 1 ★☆☆☆☆