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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Mayweed
| image = Matricariachamomilla.jpg
| image_width = 275px
| image_caption = German Chamomile (''Matricaria recutita'')
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asterales]]
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
| genus = '''''Matricaria'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]], [[1753]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See text.
}}
'''''Matricaria''''' is a [[genus]] of flowering plants in the sunflower family ([[Asteraceae]]). Some of the species have the common name of "mayweed," but this name also relates to plants not in this genus.
Most are very common in the temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and America as well as in North Africa, and South Africa and some are naturalised in Australia. ''M. occidentalis'' is native in North America; other species are introduced.
These are hardy, pleasantly [[Aroma compound|aromatic]] [[annual plant|annuals]], growing along roadsides, in ruderal soils, and fallow land, rich in nutrients. Many are considered nuisance [[weed]]s. However they are suitable for rock gardens, herb gardens and as border plants.
Their many-branched [[Plant stem|stems]] are prostrate to erect, glabrous and very leafy. Their bipinnate [[Leaf|leaves]] have numerous linear, narrowly lobed leaflets.
The [[flower]]s are radially symmetrical.The greenish yellow capitula are semi-spherical. The white ray florets can be present (''M. recutita'') or lacking (''M. discoidea''). The disc florets are 4- to 5-dentate. The receptacle is 2-3 times as high as wide. The pappus may be crown-shaped and short, or lacking.
''Matricaria'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Lime-speck Pug]].
The extracts of German Chamomile (''M. recutita'') are taken as a strong tea, safe for human consumption. It has been ascribed in herbal medicine to be carminative and anti-inflammatory. It is also used in ointments, lotions, and as a mouthwash against infections of mouth and gums. In [[aromatherapy]] use 2 [[essential oils]] of Chamomile: the "true chamomille" oil (from ''M. recutita'') and the Roman Chamomile oil (from [[Anthemis]] nobilis). The essential oils are fully different in main chemical components - bisabolol oxide A, hamasulene, bisobolol oxide B, alpha-bisabolol, bisabolene oxide for "true chamomille" oil and Amyl Butyrate, Butyl Angelate, Amyl Angelate for Roman Chamomile oil. So the aromatherapy use is different for the two varieties.
The [[taxonomy]] of ''Matricaria'' is controversial and very confused. Several species are classified in ''Tripleurospermum'' or ''Matricaria'', depending on the interpretation of the author. The distinction is made according to the number of the seed ribs : ''Tripleurospermum'' has one adaxial and two lateral seed ribs, while ''Matricaria'' has 4 or 5 adaxial seed ribs.
== Species ==
[[Image:Matricaria_discoidea.JPG|thumb|265px|right|''Matricaria discoidea'']]
* ''Matricaria acutiloba''
* ''Matricaria albida''
* ''Matricaria arabica''
* ''Matricaria arlgirdensis''
* ''Matricaria auriculata''
* ''Matricaria brachyglossa''
* ''Matricaria burchellii''
* ''Matricaria capitellata''
* ''[[Matricaria caucasica]]''
* ''Matricaria confusa''
* ''Matricaria conoclinia''
* ''Matricaria coreana''
* ''Matricaria corymbifera''
* ''Matricaria courrantiana'': Crown Mayweed
* ''Matricaria decipiens''
* ''Matricaria dichotoma''
* ''Matricaria discoidea'' : Disc Mayweed (synonym of ''Chamomilla suaveolens'' (Pursh) Rydb.)
* ''Matricaria fuscata''
* ''Matricaria glabra'' (synonym of ''Otospermum glabrum'' (Lag.) Willk.)
* ''Matricaria glabrata''
* ''Matricaria globifera''
* ''Matricaria grandiflora''
* ''Matricaria heterocarpa''
* ''Matricaria hirsutifolia''
* ''Matricaria hirta''
* ''Matricaria hispida''
* ''Matricaria inodora'' (synonym of ''Matricaria perforata'' Mérat)
* ''Matricaria intermedia''
* ''Matricaria lamellata''
* ''Matricaria lasiocarpa''
* ''Matricaria laxa''
* ''Matricaria macrotis''
* ''Matricaria maritima''
** ''Matricaria maritima'' f. ''coronata''
** ''Matricaria maritima'' ssp. ''maritima''
** ''Matricaria maritima'' ssp. ''phaeocephala''
** ''Matricaria maritima'' ssp. ''subpolaris''
* ''Matricaria matricarioides'' : [[pineapple weed|Pineapple Weed]]; Rounded Chamomile (synonym of ''Chamomilla suaveolens'' (Pursh) Rydb.)
* ''Matricaria melanophylla''
* ''Matricaria microcephala''
* ''Matricaria nigellifolia''
*''Matricaria occidentalis'' : Valley Mayweed
* ''Matricaria otaviensis''
* ''Matricaria parvilfora''
* ''[[Matricaria perforata]]'' : Scentless Mayweed
* ''Matricaria pinnatifida''
* ''Matricaria praecox'' (synonym of ''Matricaria parviflora'' (Willd.) Poir.)
* ''[[Matricaria recutita]]'' : German Chamomile, Scented Mayweed, Wild Chamomile, Common Chamomile
* ''Matricaria raddeana''
* ''Matricaria rosella''
* ''Matricaria schinzinna''
* ''Matricaria spathipappus''
* ''Matricaria subglobosa''
* ''Matricaria suffruticosa''
* ''Matricaria tempskyana''
* ''Matricaria trichophylla''
* ''Matricaria tridentata''
* ''Matricaria tzvelevii'' (synonym of ''Chamomilla tzvelevii'' (Pobed.) Rauschert)
== See also ==
* [[Chamomile]]
== Reference ==
*[http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iapt/tax/2002/00000051/00000004/art00014 A reassessment of the nomenclature of Matricaria L. and Tripleurospermum Sch. Bip. (Asteraceae) - Applequist W.L.; ''Taxon'', 1 November 2002, vol. 51, no. 4, pp. 757-761(5)]
[[Category:Asteraceae]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = Mayweed
| image = Matricariachamomilla.jpg
| image_width = 275px
| image_caption = German Chamomile (''Matricaria recutita'')
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asterales]]
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
| genus = '''''Matricaria'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]], [[1753]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See text.
}}
'''''Matricaria''''' is a [[genus]] of flowering plants in the sunflower family ([[Asteraceae]]). Some of the species have the common name of "mayweed," but this name also relates to plants not in this genus.
Most are very common in the temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and America as well as in North Africa, and South Africa and some are naturalised in Australia. ''M. occidentalis'' is native in North America; other species are introduced.
These are hardy, pleasantly [[Aroma compound|aromatic]] [[annual plant|annuals]], growing along roadsides, in ruderal soils, and fallow land, rich in nutrients. Many are considered nuisance [[weed]]s. However they are suitable for rock gardens, herb gardens and as border plants.
Their many-branched [[Plant stem|stems]] are prostrate to erect, glabrous and very leafy. Their bipinnate [[Leaf|leaves]] have numerous linear, narrowly lobed leaflets.
The [[flower]]s are radially symmetrical.The greenish yellow capitula are semi-spherical. The white ray florets can be present (''M. recutita'') or lacking (''M. discoidea''). The disc florets are 4- to 5-dentate. The receptacle is 2-3 times as high as wide. The pappus may be crown-shaped and short, or lacking.
''Matricaria'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Lime-speck Pug]].
The extracts of German Chamomile (''M. recutita'') are taken as a strong tea, safe for human consumption. It has been ascribed in herbal medicine to be carminative and anti-inflammatory. It is also used in ointments, lotions, and as a mouthwash against infections of mouth and gums. In [[aromatherapy]] use 2 [[essential oils]] of Chamomile: the "true chamomille" oil (from ''M. recutita'') and the Roman Chamomile oil (from [[Anthemis]] nobilis). The essential oils are fully different in main chemical components - bisabolol oxide A, hamasulene, bisobolol oxide B, alpha-bisabolol, bisabolene oxide for "true chamomille" oil and Amyl Butyrate, Butyl Angelate, Amyl Angelate for Roman Chamomile oil. So the aromatherapy use is different for the two varieties.
The [[taxonomy]] of ''Matricaria'' is controversial and very confused. Several species are classified in ''Tripleurospermum'' or ''Matricaria'', depending on the interpretation of the author. The distinction is made according to the number of the seed ribs : ''Tripleurospermum'' has one adaxial and two lateral seed ribs, while ''Matricaria'' has 4 or 5 adaxial seed ribs.
== Species ==
[[Image:Matricaria_discoidea.JPG|thumb|265px|right|''Matricaria discoidea'']]
* ''Matricaria acutiloba''
* ''Matricaria albida''
* ''Matricaria arabica''
* ''Matricaria arlgirdensis''
* ''Matricaria auriculata''
* ''Matricaria brachyglossa''
* ''Matricaria burchellii''
* ''Matricaria capitellata''
* ''[[Matricaria caucasica]]''
* ''Matricaria confusa''
* ''Matricaria conoclinia''
* ''Matricaria coreana''
* ''Matricaria corymbifera''
* ''Matricaria courrantiana'': Crown Mayweed
* ''Matricaria decipiens''
* ''Matricaria dichotoma''
* ''Matricaria discoidea'' : Disc Mayweed (synonym of ''Chamomilla suaveolens'' (Pursh) Rydb.)
* ''Matricaria fuscata''
* ''Matricaria glabra'' (synonym of ''Otospermum glabrum'' (Lag.) Willk.)
* ''Matricaria glabrata''
* ''Matricaria globifera''
* ''Matricaria grandiflora''
* ''Matricaria heterocarpa''
* ''Matricaria hirsutifolia''
* ''Matricaria hirta''
* ''Matricaria hispida''
* ''Matricaria inodora'' (synonym of ''Matricaria perforata'' Mérat)
* ''Matricaria intermedia''
* ''Matricaria lamellata''
* ''Matricaria lasiocarpa''
* ''Matricaria laxa''
* ''Matricaria macrotis''
* ''Matricaria maritima''
** ''Matricaria maritima'' f. ''coronata''
** ''Matricaria maritima'' ssp. ''maritima''
** ''Matricaria maritima'' ssp. ''phaeocephala''
** ''Matricaria maritima'' ssp. ''subpolaris''
* ''Matricaria matricarioides'' : [[pineapple weed|Pineapple Weed]]; Rounded Chamomile (synonym of ''Chamomilla suaveolens'' (Pursh) Rydb.)
* ''Matricaria melanophylla''
* ''Matricaria microcephala''
* ''Matricaria nigellifolia''
*''Matricaria occidentalis'' : Valley Mayweed
* ''Matricaria otaviensis''
* ''Matricaria parvilfora''
* ''[[Matricaria perforata]]'' : Scentless Mayweed
* ''Matricaria pinnatifida''
* ''Matricaria praecox'' (synonym of ''Matricaria parviflora'' (Willd.) Poir.)
* ''[[Matricaria recutita]]'' : German Chamomile, Scented Mayweed, Wild Chamomile, Common Chamomile
* ''Matricaria raddeana''
* ''Matricaria rosella''
* ''Matricaria schinzinna''
* ''Matricaria spathipappus''
* ''Matricaria subglobosa''
* ''Matricaria suffruticosa''
* ''Matricaria tempskyana''
* ''Matricaria trichophylla''
* ''Matricaria tridentata''
* ''Matricaria tzvelevii'' (synonym of ''Chamomilla tzvelevii'' (Pobed.) Rauschert)
== See also ==
* [[Chamomile]]
== Reference ==
*[http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iapt/tax/2002/00000051/00000004/art00014 A reassessment of the nomenclature of Matricaria L. and Tripleurospermum Sch. Bip. (Asteraceae) - Applequist W.L.; ''Taxon'', 1 November 2002, vol. 51, no. 4, pp. 757-761(5)]
[[Category:Asteraceae]]
