Our tiny mystery seeds from last week were from thyme, Thymus sp.
Thyme is a small, evergreen perennial plant with tiny delicate leaves, which grows to only about 12 inches tall. It has been selected from wild plants originally found in southern Europe.
Belonging to the mint family (it has square stems), selection has led to many different varieties. General forms are common thyme, lemon thyme, caraway thyme and wild thyme.
(Public domain illustration from Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler’s Medizinal-Pflanzen, Wikimedia)
The tiny white, pink or lilac-colored flowers attract bees.
Thyme is an herb that is used in cooking, either fresh or dried. It tends to have a powerful flavor, so use it sparingly. One advantage is that it has such small leaves it doesn’t require much mincing.
 Do you grow thyme? What is your favorite recipe for using it?
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