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Published In: Species Plantarum 2: 891. 1753. (1 May 1753) (Sp. Pl.) Name publication detailView in BotanicusView in Biodiversity Heritage Library
 

Project Name Data (Last Modified On 7/9/2009)
Acceptance : Accepted
Project Data     (Last Modified On 7/9/2009)
Status: Introduced

 

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1. Matricaria chamomilla L. (wild chamomile, false chamomile, German chamomile)

M. chamomilla var. coronata (J. Gay) Coss. & Germ.

M. courrantiana DC.

M. recutita L.

Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert

M. suaveolens L.

Pl. 227 h–j; Map 953

Plants aromatic, with a distinct sweet, musky odor when bruised or crushed. Stems 8–60 cm tall, glabrous or less commonly sparsely hairy. Leaf blades 2–7 cm long, elliptic to oblong-obovate in outline, mostly deeply 2 times pinnately lobed, the basal primary lobes often appearing clustered, the ultimate lobes 2–15 mm long, linear to threadlike, finely 3-veined. Heads radiate, the stalks 2–6 cm long, slender. Involucre 2–3 mm long. Ray florets 10–15(–20), often becoming deflexed with age, the corolla 4–10 mm long, white. Disc florets with the corolla 1.5–2.0 mm long, mostly 5-lobed, mostly yellow. Pappus a short collar or crown (0.2–0.6 mm long), less commonly absent. Fruits 0.7–0.9 mm long, usually 5-ribbed, the ribs well developed but not winglike. 2n=18. May–October.

Introduced, scattered, mostly in the eastern half of the state (native of Europe, Africa, Asia; introduced nearly worldwide). Fallow fields, railroads, roadsides, and open, disturbed areas.

This species is commonly grown in gardens and also commercially. It is the common false chamomile that is used medicinally for its anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and soothing properties. Most commonly dried stems, foliage, and heads are brewed into a tea. An extract of the essential oils is also used as a lotion and an ingredient in some soaps and shampoos.

The pappus in some American plants forms a larger crown than that of plants from elsewhere in North America and Europe. Although some botanists have referred to such plants as var. coronata, there appear to be too many intermediates to support formal taxonomic recognition of the extremes. Matricaria chamomilla is very similar vegetatively to Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. (true chamomile, English chamomile, Roman chamomile) and Tripleurospermum maritimum (L.) W.D.J. Koch (scentless chamomile), and specimens lacking flowers or fruits may be difficult to determine with confidence. Chamaemelum differs by having a chaffy receptacle and glandular corolla lobes. It is occasionally cultivated in the Americas. Tripleurospermum is discussed further in the treatment of that genus and above after the genus description for Matricaria.

 


 

 
 
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