4. Thymus richardii subsp. nitidus (Guss.) Jalas, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 64: 264. 1971

Thymus nitidus ≡ Thymus nitidus Guss., Fl. Sicul. Syn. 2(1): 97. 1844;

Thymus serpyllum nitidus ≡ Th. serpyllum var. nitidus (Guss.) Bég . in Fiori & Béguinot, Fl. Italia 3: 66. 1903. - Th. sensu lucidus Guss., Fl. Sicul. Prodr., Suppl.: 198. 1843

Type.

Marettimo, 10 May 1829, Herb. Gussone Sicilia s.c., bottom-right specimen (Lectotype: NAP-Gussone!, designated by Bartolucci et al. 2013: 1310).

Description.

Stems up to 25 cm long, procumbent or suberect. Leaf blade up to 10 × 4.5 mm, elliptical, entire. Inflorescence 8-30 mm long, subcapitate to oblong; bracts up to 7 × 4 mm, similar to leaves, entire, glabrous to hairy at margin and midrib (eglandular hairs up to 0.4 mm long, mixed with stipitate glandular hairs). Calyx 4.5-6.3 mm long, densely covered by stipitate glandular hairs and sparse eglandular hairs up to 0.5 mm long; calyx tube 1.9-2.5 mm long, with eglandular hairs up to 0.5 mm long on the ventral surface; central tooth of upper lip 0.8-1.5 mm long, lower teeth 2-3 mm long, with pectinate hairs up to 0.5 mm long. Corolla 6.5-9.5 mm long, pale rose.

Chromosome number.

2 n = 28 (Morales 1997)

Distribution.

Endemic to Island of Marettimo, Sicily (Italy).

Habitat.

Limestone rocky places, 10-600 m a.s.l.

Specimens examined.

Italy. Sicily, Marettimo, sine leg. (PAL); Isola di Marettimo, rupi di P. Anzine, 21 July 2007, Scuderi (VAL 184304) .