Anthemis cotula L.
stinking chamomile (mayweed)
Asteraceae (Aster family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
stinking chamomile (mayweed)
Asteraceae (Aster family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Species Information
General:
Annual, ill-scented herb from a taproot; stems erect, leafy, simple or branched, essentially glabrous, 10-60 cm tall.
Leaves:
Alternate, 2-3 times divided into narrow, sparsely hairy, glandular dotted segments.
Flowers:
Heads solitary at ends of uppermost branches; involucres broad; involucral bracts in several rows, overlapping, firm, narrow, with a thickened midrib and translucent margins; receptacles with papery scales only in the middle; ray flowers white, sterile and generally neutral, commonly 10-20, 5-10 mm long; disk flowers yellow, numerous.
Fruits:
Achenes slightly flattened, 10-ribbed, glandular bumpy; pappus lacking.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Habitat and Range
Dry roadsides and disturbed sites in the lowland and montane zones; common in S BC, less frequent N of 54degreeN; introduced from Europe.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Maruta cotula (L.) DC.
Taxonomic Keys
1. Rays yellow........................................................................A. tinctoria
1. Rays white. 2. Receptacles papery throughout, achenes with smooth ribs..................A. arvensis 2. Receptacles papery only above the middle; achenes with glandular-tuberculate (bumpy) ribs..................A. cotula Source: Illustrated Flora of British Columbia |