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Acinos arvensis
  • Basil Thyme

an annual or perennial herbaceous herb of the Acinos genus in the family Labiatae.

248px
Niche
  • Soil surface
    Soil surface
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Ground cover
    Ground cover
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
    Acid to Very alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 4
    Zone 4
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Acinos arvensis has 0 edible uses listed
Acinos arvensis has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

The flowering tops are used as a flavouring[1][2][3] and in salads[4]. Said to be similar to thyme in odour but milder and more pleasant[3]. The plant is only faintly aromatic and does not really make a very good substitute for thyme[238, K].

Leaves

Salad

Material uses

The plant makes a good ground cover[5].

There are no material uses listed for Acinos arvensis.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

Basil thyme was a great favourite of the ancient herbalists, though it is little used medicinally at present[1]. The herb is diuretic, odontalgic, rubefacient and stomachic[1][6][4]. The essential oil has been applied externally as a rubefacient, whilst one drop of it put into a decayed tooth is said to alleviate the pain[1]. The plant has also been added to bath water, especially for children, and is said to be a strengthener and nerve soother[1]. The flowering plant is harvested in the summer and is normally used fresh in infusions[4].

Leaves

Diuretic
Odontalgic
Stomachic

Unknown part

Rubefacient

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Soil surface

Ecological Functions

Ground cover

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a cold frame. If you have sufficient seed then you could try sowing in situ in April or May. Germination should take place within a month. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring. Basal cuttings in late spring. Very easy[K].

Seed

Rooted cuttings

Cultivation

Succeeds in any well-drained soil[5], though it prefers a light well-drained dry soil in full sun[7][4]. Prefers sandy and alkaline growing conditions[4]. Dislikes shade. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -15°c[4]. A short-lived perennial, but the plants usually self-sow when they are growing in a suitable position[4].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Acinos arvensis. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Acinos arvensis.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Acinos arvensis
Genus
Acinos
Family
Labiatae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2][3][4]
Medicinal uses
[1][6][4]
Material uses & Functions
[5]
Botanic
[8][9]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Ground cover
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
4
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Soil surface
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    herbaceous
    Life Cycle
    annual, perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.15 x 0.3
    Fertility
    self fertile
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    indigo, violet
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.7 Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (32202/01/01)
    2. ? 2.02.12.2 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (32202/01/01)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (32202/01/01)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.54.64.74.84.9 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (32202/01/01)
    5. ? 5.05.15.2 Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. ISBN 0-330-30725-8 (32202/01/01)
    6. ? 6.06.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (32202/01/01)
    7. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (32202/01/01)
    8. ? Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press (32202/01/01)
    9. ? Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)


    "image:Acinos arvensis pelouse-chezy-sur-marne 02 29052005 3.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "http://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Acinos_arvensis&oldid=73703"
    Facts about "Acinos arvensis"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyLabiatae +
    Belongs to genusAcinos +
    Functions asGround cover +
    Has common nameBasil Thyme +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves +
    Has edible useSalad +
    Has fertility typeSelf fertile +
    Has flowers of colourindigo + and violet +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone4 +
    Has imageAcinos arvensis pelouse-chezy-sur-marne 02 29052005 3.JPG +
    Has lifecycle typeAnnual + and Perennial +
    Has mature height0.15 +
    Has mature width0.3 +
    Has medicinal partLeaves + and Unknown part +
    Has medicinal useDiuretic +, Odontalgic +, Rubefacient + and Stomachic +
    Has primary imageAcinos arvensis pelouse-chezy-sur-marne 02 29052005 3.JPG +
    Has search nameacinos arvensis + and x +
    Has seed requiring scarificationNo +
    Has seed requiring stratificationNo +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameAcinos arvensis +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheSoil surface +
    Is grown fromSeeds + and Cutting +
    Is herbaceous or woodyHerbaceous +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates air pollutionNo +
    Tolerates maritime exposureNo +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Tolerates windNo +