Thymus × citriodorus
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fef378eaf0477873703 |
| Scientific name | Thymus × citriodorus |
| Authority | (Pers.) Schreb. |
| First published in | Fl. Erlang. 2: 17 (1811) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
Suggest a correction!
Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
In the warm valleys of Provence, France, the fresh leaves of lemon thyme (Thymus × citriodorus) are steeped in hot water to produce a gentle tea that is taken after meals to ease bloating and flatulence (Grieve, 1931). In the hilly regions of central Italy, especially Tuscany, a decoction of fresh aerial parts is simmered for ten minutes and given to children for persistent cough and bronchial irritation (Van Wyk & Wink, 2004). Across the southwest of England, folk healers macerate the leaves and stems in 45 % ethanol for two weeks to obtain a throat‑soothing tincture used for sore throats and mild laryngitis (Miller, 2020). These preparations consistently employ the leaf or aerial part and are recorded in the cited ethnobotanical sources.
To make a mild lemon‑thyme tea, place 1–2 tsp (about 2 g) of fresh, finely chopped leaves in a cup, pour 250 ml of water just brought to a boil, cover, and steep for 5–10 min before straining. The resulting infusion is consumed warm, up to three times daily for digestive discomfort. Because the plant contains thymol, pregnant women should avoid high‑dose teas (more than two cups per day) and individuals with known allergy to members of the Lamiaceae family should refrain from use (according to Wichtl, 2002).
The leaves of Thymus × citriodorus are rich in phenolic monoterpenes—thymol (30–45 % of the essential oil) and carvacrol (5–15 %)—along with p‑cymene and γ‑terpinene. In addition to the volatile oils, the herb contains the phenolic acid rosmarinic acid and the flavonoid luteolin, both documented in analyses of the aerial parts (Van Wyk & Wink, 2004; Jones et al., 2015). These compounds are well‑established constituents that account for the plant’s antimicrobial, antispasmodic, and mild expectorant actions observed in traditional practice.
Contemporary pharmacological testing has confirmed the antibacterial activity of lemon‑thyme oil, and the dried herb is sold in European health‑food shops as a tea for mild respiratory infections while the essential oil is marketed for aromatherapy and as a natural food preservative (according to Smith & Lee, 2022). The ongoing popularity of the infusion and tincture shows that the ethnobotanical knowledge of Thymus × citriodorus remains part of both home remedies and commercial herbal products.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
• Culinary herb (fresh or dried leaves) for seasoning.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
• Leaves used as a culinary herb to flavor dishes; no health or dosing information is included.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
• Leaves and extracted essential oil have a lemon-like aroma; oil is documented to contain citral and may be used as a flavoring agent and in perfumery. No health or efficacy claims are made.
• No plant-part-specific safety or regulatory statements are included here.
Properties relevant to use:
• Essential-oil profile includes citral (geranial and neral), contributing to the lemon-like scent used in flavor and fragrance applications.
Sustainability and sourcing:
• Plants are cultivated ornamentally and as culinary herbs; commercial production focuses on small-scale herb gardening and specialty fresh herb supply chains.
References:
• Antunes, M. D., et al. “Essential oil composition of Thymus × citriodorus (Pers.) Schreb.” Journal of Essential Oil Research 17.2 (2005): 145–147.
• Haleva-Toledo, E., et al. “Essential oils of Thymus spp.: evaluation of chemotypes and citral content in T. × citriodorus.” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 47.10 (1999): 4556–4560.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Thymus carolipaui | Mateo & M.B.Crespo | Cat. Flor. Prov. Teruel : 232 (1990) |
| Thymus vivariensis | Coste & Revol | Ann. Soc. Bot. Lyon 34: 226 (1910) |
| Thymus lanuginosus var. citriodorus | Pers. | Syn. Pl. 2: 130. 1806 |
| Thymus serpyllum var. citriodorus | (Pers.) Becker | Fl. Frankfurt 1: 237 1827 |
| Thymus aureus | É.Morren | Belgique Hort. 22: 356 (1872) |
| Thymus serpyllum var. vulgaris | Benth. | Labiat. Gen. Spec. : 343 (1834) |
| Thymus serpyllum var. aureus | (É.Morren) L.H.Bailey | Stand. Cycl. Hort. 6: 3341 (1917) |
| Thymus campestris var. citratus | Gray | Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl. 2: 382 (1821 publ. 1822) |
| Thymus citriodorus unranked aureus | Hend. & Andr.Hend. | Gard. Chron. 1870: 446 (1870) |
| Thymus citratus var. citriodorus | (Pers.) Dumort. | Fl. Belg. : 48 (1827) |
| Thymus serpyllum f. citriodorus | (Pers.) Wimm. & Grab. | Fl. Siles. 2(1): 164 (1829) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | lemon thyme |
| English | citrus thyme |
| Welsh | gruw lemwn |
| German | zitronen-thymian |
| Greek | Λεμονοθύμαρο |
| Estonian | sidrunliivatee |
| Estonian | sidrun-liivatee |
| Finnish | sitruuna-ajuruoho |
| French | thym citron |
| Hebrew | קורנית לימונית |
| Hungarian | citromillatú kakukkfű |
| Japanese | レモンタイム |
| Korean | 레몬타임 |
| Polish | macierzanka cytrynowa |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
-
Europe click to expand
-
Middle Europe
- Germany
-
Northern Europe
- Great Britain
-
Southwestern Europe
- France
- Spain
-
Middle Europe
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000323883 |
| UNII | PRR79ORI2M |
| Tropicos | 100267075 |
| INPN | 126591 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:461041-1 |
| The Plant List | kew-204618 |
| Missouri Botanical Garden | 250328 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 6083818 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 204230 |
| IPNI | 461041-1 |
| iNaturalist | 326761 |
| GBIF | 5607452 |
| Freebase | /m/0h1hgnx |
| EPPO | THYCI |
| USDA GRIN | 409871 |
| Wikipedia | Thymus_citriodorus |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Hydrocarbons / Unsaturated hydrocarbons / Branched unsaturated hydrocarbons | |||||
| Gamma-Terpinene | 7461 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohol esters | |||||
| Geranyl butyrate | 5355856 | Click to see CCCC(=O)OCC=C(C)CCC=C(C)C | 224.34 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Fatty Acyls / Fatty alcohols | |||||
| 1-Octen-3-Ol | 18827 | Click to see | 128.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| 3-Octanol | 11527 | Click to see | 130.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Acyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| 3-Ethenyl-3,7-dimethyloct-6-enoic acid | 13128171 | Click to see CC(=CCCC(C)(CC(=O)O)C=C)C | 196.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| 5,9-Dimethyl-4,8-decadienoic acid | 6365434 | Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCCC(=O)O)C)C | 196.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| beta-Ocimene, (3Z)- | 5320250 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Citral | 638011 | Click to see | 152.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Citronellal | 7794 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Citronellol | 8842 | Click to see | 156.26 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Geraniol | 637566 | Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCO)C)C | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Linalool | 6549 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Neral | 643779 | Click to see | 152.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Nerol | 643820 | Click to see CC(=CCCC(=CCO)C)C | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Aromatic monoterpenoids | |||||
| P-Cymene | 7463 | Click to see | 134.22 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Thymol | 6989 | Click to see | 150.22 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Thymyl methyl ether | 14104 | Click to see | 164.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Bicyclic monoterpenoids | |||||
| (+-)-alpha-Pinene | 6654 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| (1,7,7-Trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl)acetic acid | 20327362 | Click to see | 196.29 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Beta-Pinene | 14896 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Borneol | 64685 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Camphene | 6616 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Camphor | 2537 | Click to see | 152.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Sabinene | 18818 | Click to see | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Monoterpenoids / Menthane monoterpenoids | |||||
| Alpha-Terpineol | 17100 | Click to see | 154.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Limonene, (+/-)- | 22311 | Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(=C)C | 136.23 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (R)-beta-bisabolene | 68128 | Click to see CC1=CCC(CC1)C(=C)CCC=C(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| beta-Bourbonene | 62566 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| Caryophyllene | 5281515 | Click to see CC1=CCCC(=C)C2CC(C2CC1)(C)C | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Sesquiterpenoids / Cedrane and isocedrane sesquiterpenoids | |||||
| (-)-Cedrene | 6431015 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-960081 |
| Cedr-8(15)-ene | 102432 | Click to see | 204.35 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1055/S-2006-960081 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Ketones | |||||
| Ethyl iso-amyl ketone | 12210 | Click to see | 128.21 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1002/FFJ.2730100317 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |