White micromeria, White-leaved Savory
Clinopodium serpyllifolium subsp. fruticosum

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A small evergreen shrub. The stems are thin. It grows 40-70 cm high. The leaves are grey-green. The flowers are white or pale pink.

There are about 100 Micromeria species.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It can grow quite well in poor soils and rocky areas. It grows in rocky areas along the Mediterranean coast.

Countries/locations it is found in

Albania, Balkans, Britain, Croatia, Europe, Israel (country/location of origin), Italy, Mediterranean, Middle East, Palestine, Spain, Syria, Turkey, Türkiye, Ukraine, Yugoslavia

How it is used for food

The leaves are used for herbal tea. The leaves are used for flavouring. A popular bread dip is made with the leaves mixed with olive oil and salt. The leaves are cooked as a vegetable in pastry. Caution: It contains pulegone and should not be eaten by pregnant women or those trying to conceive.

Edible parts

Leaves, leaves - tea, spice

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Albaca de monte, Mediterranean rock mint, Poleo de serra, Poliol, Turkish pennyroyal, Za'tar balat, Zuta levana

Synonyms

Bystropogon marifolius Juss. ex Steud.; Calamintha fruticosa (L.) Steud.; Calamintha marifolia (Cav.) Steud.; Clinopodium fruticosum (L.) Kuntze [Illegitimate]; Melissa fruticosa L.; Melissa marifolia (Cav.) Pers.; Melissa rupestris Salisb. [Illegitimate]; Melissa serpyllifolia Willd. ex Benth.; Micromeria fruticosa (L.) Druce; Micromeria fruticosa var. italica (Huter) Fen.; Micromeria marifolia (Cav.) Benth.; Micromeria marifolia var. italica Huter; Nepeta cretica (DC.) F. Dietr.; Nepeta croatica Ledeb.; Nepeta marifolia Cav.; Satureja fruticosa (L.) Briq.; Satureja marifolia (Cav.) Caruel [Illegitimate]; Thymus barrelieri Spreng.; Thymus creticus DC.; Thymus fruticosus (L.) Link; Thymus marifolius (Cav.) Willd.;