Matricaria discoidea

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Matricaria discoidea
Matricaria discoidea - lohnav kummel Keilas.jpg
Pineappleweed
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Matricaria
Species:
M. discoidea
Binomial name
Matricaria discoidea
DC.
Synonyms

Artemisia matricarioides auct.
Chamomilla suaveolens (Pursh) Rydb.
Lepidanthus suaveolens (Pursh) Nutt.
Lepidotheca suaveolens (Pursh) Nutt.
Matricaria matricarioides auct.
Matricaria suaveolens (Pursh) Buchenau
Santolina suaveolens Pursh
Tanacetum suaveolens (Pursh) Hook.
Source: NRCS, [1] GRIN [2]

Contents

Matricaria discoidea, commonly known as pineappleweed, [3] wild chamomile, disc mayweed, and rayless mayweed, is an annual plant native to North America and introduced to Eurasia where it grows as a common herb of fields, gardens, and roadsides. [4] It is in the daisy family Asteraceae. The flowers exude a chamomile/pineapple aroma when crushed. They are edible and have been used in salads (although they may become bitter by the time the plant blooms) and to make herbal tea.

Description

The flower head or pseudanthium is cone-shaped, composed of densely packed yellowish-green corollas, and lacking ray-florets. The leaves are pinnately dissected and sweet-scented when crushed. The plant grows 2 to 16 in (5.1 to 40.6 cm) high. Flowerheads are produced from March to September.

Distribution and habitat

The plant grows well in disturbed areas, especially those with poor, compacted soil. It can be seen blooming on footpaths, roadsides, and similar places in spring and early summer. It is native to North America, from central Alaska south to California and Texas and east to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. [5] It is also native to Greenland. [5] Though other sources, like the Flora of North America, assert that it is only native to the Pacific Northwest and while noting that NatureServe incorrectly list it as introduced to North America. [6]

Alongside a variety of other plant species, wild chamomile seeds are known to be inadvertently transported to new areas through soil carried by cars; A study by Dunmail J. Hodkinson and Ken Thompson found that M. discoidea is one of the most common plants to be transported in this way. [7]

It has been introduced widely in the northern hemisphere [5] and is common and naturalized throughout Britain where it is one of the fastest-spreading plants in the 20th century. [8] [9]

Uses

The greens can be washed and eaten, and both the flowers and the whole plant can be steeped to make tea, [10] described as "excellent" by one field guide. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chamomile</span> Common name for several daisy-like plants

Chamomile or camomile is the common name for several daisy-like plants of the family Asteraceae. Two of the species, Matricaria chamomilla and Chamaemelum nobile, are commonly used to make herbal infusions for beverages. There has been limited research as to whether consuming chamomile in foods or beverages is effective in treating medical conditions.

<i>Argyrocytisus</i> Genus of legumes

Argyrocytisus battandieri, the pineapple broom or Moroccan broom is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae, subfamily Faboideae. It is the only member of the genus Argyrocytisus.

<i>Matricaria</i> Genus of plants

Matricaria is a genus of flowering plants in the chamomile tribe within the sunflower family. Some of the species have the common name of "mayweed", but this name also refers to plants not in this genus.

<i>Matricaria chamomilla</i> Species of flowering plant

Matricaria chamomilla, commonly known as chamomile, German chamomile, Hungarian chamomile (kamilla), wild chamomile, blue chamomile, or scented mayweed, is an annual plant of the composite family Asteraceae. Commonly, the name M. recutita is applied to the herbal product chamomile, although other species are also used as chamomile. The plant is commonly used to make a tea.

<i>Rubus phoenicolasius</i> Berry and plant

Rubus phoenicolasius is an Asian species of raspberry in the rose family, native to China, Japan, and Korea.

<i>Tripleurospermum inodorum</i> Species of flowering plant

Tripleurospermum inodorum, common names scentless false mayweed, scentless mayweed, scentless chamomile, and Baldr's brow, is the type species of Tripleurospermum. This plant is native to Eurasia and North Africa, and introduced to North America, where it is commonly found in fields, fallow land and gardens.

<i>Lepidium virginicum</i> Species of flowering plant

Lepidium virginicum, also known as least pepperwort or Virginia pepperweed, is an herbaceous plant in the mustard family (Brassicaceae). It is native to much of North America, including most of the United States and Mexico and southern regions of Canada, as well as most of Central America. It can be found elsewhere as an introduced species.

<i>Anthemis cotula</i> Species of flowering plant

Anthemis cotula, also known as stinking chamomile, or mayweed, is a flowering annual plant with a noticeable and strong odor. The odor is often considered unpleasant, and it is from this that it gains the common epithet "stinking". In pre-colonial times, its distribution was limited to the Old Continent and Africa; though it was established in most of Europe, it was not present in Finland, Ireland, or the northernmost reaches of Scotland, in spite of the fact that these countries feature climatic regions favorable to this plant and are in proximity to countries where the species is native, such as Russia, Estonia, Lithuania and England. It has successfully migrated to the American continents where it can be found growing in meadows, alongside roads, and in fields.

<i>Sonchus asper</i> Species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae

Sonchus asper, the prickly sow-thistle, rough milk thistle, spiny sowthistle, sharp-fringed sow thistle, or spiny-leaved sow thistle, is a widespread flowering plant in the tribe Cichorieae within the family Asteraceae.

<i>Anthemis arvensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Anthemis arvensis, also known as corn chamomile, mayweed, scentless chamomile, or field chamomile is a species of flowering plant in the genus Anthemis, in the aster family. It is used as an ornamental plant.

<i>Arctium minus</i> Species of flowering plant

Arctium minus, commonly known as lesser burdock, little burdock, louse-bur, common burdock, button-bur, cuckoo-button, or wild rhubarb, is a biennial plant. This plant is native to Europe, but has become introduced elsewhere such as Australia, North and South America, and other places.

<i>Chenopodiastrum murale</i> Species of flowering plant

Chenopodiastrum murale, is a species of plant in the family Amaranthaceae known by the common names nettle-leaved goosefoot, Australian-spinach, salt-green, and sowbane. This plant is native to Europe and parts of Asia and northern Africa, but it is widespread worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas due to the ease of it being introduced. It is a common weed of fields and roadsides.

<i>Tripleurospermum maritimum</i> Species of flowering plant

Tripleurospermum maritimum is a species of flowering plant in the aster family commonly known as false mayweed or sea mayweed. It is found in many coastal areas of Northern Europe, including Scandinavia and Iceland, often growing in sand or amongst beach pebbles.

<i>Lappula squarrosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Lappula squarrosa is a species of flowering plant in the borage family known by several common names, including European stickseed, bur forget-me-not, bluebur, and bristly sheepbur. It is native to Europe and Asia, where it is common, and it is an introduced species in much of North America and Africa. It is well known as a noxious weed where it is naturalized and also in many parts of its native range. This is an annual herb producing an erect stem often with sprays of many long, bending branches, its form varying in different regions and climates. The plant may approach a meter in height. The stems are lined with linear to oval leaves up to 5 centimeters long and coated in whitish hairs, and the herbage emits a scent generally considered unpleasant. The inflorescence is a long, leafy raceme of tiny flowers near the ends of the branches. Each flower is 2 to 4 millimeters wide with five light blue corolla lobes. White-flowered plants are occasionally seen. The fruit is a cluster of four nutlets which are coated in hooked prickles. The seeds are dispersed when the prickles get caught on animal coats and human clothing, and when they are moved by wind.

<i>Oxalis latifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Oxalis latifolia is a species of flowering plant in the woodsorrel family known by the common names garden pink-sorrel and broadleaf woodsorrel. It is native to Mexico and parts of Central and South America.

<i>Sisymbrium orientale</i> Species of flowering plant

Sisymbrium orientale is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae known by the common names Indian hedgemustard and eastern rocket. It is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and it can be found throughout much of the temperate world as an introduced species and in some areas a common roadside weed. It is an annual herb producing a hairy, branching stem up to about 30 centimeters tall. The basal leaves are divided into deep lobes or toothed leaflets. Leaves higher on the stem have lance-shaped blades with small separate lobes near the base. The top of the stem is occupied by a raceme of flowers with light yellow petals each measuring up to a centimeter long. The fruit is a silique which can be up to 10 centimeters long.

<i>Trifolium hirtum</i> Species of legume

Trifolium hirtum, commonly known as rose clover, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae. It is indigenous to a range of regions spanning Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to other parts of the world where it is cultivated for various purposes.

<i>Matricaria occidentalis</i> Species of flowering plant

Matricaria occidentalis, commonly known as valley mayweed, is an annual plant native to North America. It is in the family Asteraceae.

<i>Oncosiphon pilulifer</i> Species of plant native to Africa

Oncosiphon pilulifer, also known as globe chamomile and stinknet, is a flowering plant in the daisy family (Asteraceae) native to South Africa and Lesotho. It is considered invasive in some parts of North America.

<i>Clinopodium menthifolium</i> Species of flowering plant

Clinopodium menthifolium, commonly known as the wood calamint or woodland calamint, is a species of flowering plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is found throughout southern and central Europe from the United Kingdom and east as far as temperate parts of Asia, and as south as North Africa. It grows up to 1,700 m (5,600 ft) in elevation.

References

  1. USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Matricaria discoidea". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
  2. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) (2005-09-07). "Taxon: Matricaria discoidea DC". Taxonomy for Plants. USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program, National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Archived from the original on 2008-04-22. Retrieved 2008-06-14.
  3. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  4. "Pineapple Mayweed". NatureGate.
  5. 1 2 3 "Matricaria discoidea DC". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  6. Brouillet, Luc (5 November 2020). "Matricaria discoidea - FNA". Flora of North America. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  7. Hodkinson, Dunmail J.; Thompson, Ken (1997). "Plant Dispersal: The Role of Man". Journal of Applied Ecology. 34 (6): 1484–1496. doi:10.2307/2405264. ISSN   0021-8901. JSTOR   2405264.
  8. P.A. Stroh; T. A. Humphrey; R.J. Burkmar; O.L. Pescott; D.B. Roy; K.J. Walker (eds.). "Matricaria discoidea DC". BSBI Online Plant Atlas 2020. Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  9. The Wildlife Trusts, "Pineappleweed" http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/species/pineappleweed
  10. Nyerges, Christopher (2017). Foraging Washington: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Foods. Guilford, CT: Falcon Guides. ISBN   978-1-4930-2534-3. OCLC   965922681.
  11. Benoliel, Doug (2011). Northwest Foraging: The Classic Guide to Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest (Rev. and updated ed.). Seattle, WA: Skipstone. p. 123. ISBN   978-1-59485-366-1. OCLC   668195076.