For the past couple of weeks, I have been on the island of Karpathos, Greece, visiting family. In the cool mornings on the countryside of Afiartis, I like to go jogging. While I jog, I see bushes of purple plants lining the dirt roads and far up on the hills. These bushes contain the thyme herb that grows commonly in Greece, as well as in the rest of the Mediterranean. While bending down to pick up a couple of its flowers, I can smell its strong aromatic fragrance. This is a result of the many glandular hairs found throughout the plant. Whenever these hairs are broken, the aromatic smell is released. The thyme plant also produces essential oils, which are advantageous as the plant can lack water in its dry environment. When these essential oils evaporate, they surround the plant and create a saturated environment, which decreases water loss. Continue reading →