Thymus moroderi
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| Thymus moroderi | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Thymus moroderi Pau ex Martinez |
Thymus moroderi is a small plant from the Thymus genus. It is endemic to some areas in the southern, driest part of the Alicante province (where it is called cantahueso or cantueso both in Spanish and Valencian) along with some isolated and similarly subarid locations in the contiguous Región de Murcia (Spain).
Thymus moroderi must not be confused with the somewhat similar in appearance (yet from the (Lavandula genus) Lavandula stoechas, which is also called "cantueso" in Spanish.
Thymus moroderi is –outside its blooming season– an inconspicuous dark green plant with tiny leaves and an overall very modest appearance. Its typical size is small; in optimal conditions, the oldest mature ex. reach a radius of some 25 cms. and approximately 20 cms. height.
It blooms from April through early June; during these weeks, its normally dull appearance changes dramatically due to its characteristic flower.
Thymus moroderi is a xerophyte plant which thrives in areas with a total annual precipitation of 300mm and less, as recorded in the southern part of the Alicante province and contigous areas in Murcia. It also shows a preference for otherwise extremely poor soils, especially those showing traces of gypsum.
Despite Thymus moroderi is not listed in any endangered species collection, arguably it is not a common species because of its patchy distribution, the fact that the areas where it is present are rather densely populated and the subsequent picking of its flowers (which, despite recommendations to only trim the plant, some may still carry out by uprooting it completely).
[edit] Popular uses
From this plant a tratitional local liquor is made, the one of cantueso.
Also, mostly around the Elche area, the flowers of Thymus moroderi are seasonally picked and then desiccated for readily consumption through the year as a stomach herbal tonic, which is brewed such as in a herbal tea.
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