FLORA OF ICELAND elements: Thymus praecox ssp. arcticus, wild thyme

Thymus praecox ssp arcticus; wild thyme is common on all sand/gravel soils and in dry heath lands. The plant forms loose tufts sometimes resembling the moss campion, but never so compact as the moss campion. Although this thyme species is not commonly used in food or other consumer products like herbal tea's it can be used but it is more bitter and misses the characteristic flavour of other thyme species. Walking through Iceland's heathers in summer one can often know the wild thyme is present by its scent before acually seeing it.
It is member of the mint family (Labiatae).

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