Chamomile

2 Types of Chamomileused medicinally

German ChamomileMatricaria recutita

Used more frequently in U.S.

Roman ChamomileChamaemelum nobile (syn. Anthemis nobilis )

Used more in EnglandStronger odor and flavor than German

Chamomile - from the Greek for ground-apple (refering to apple-like scent)

German Chamomile

Botanical Family: Aster Family (Asteraceae) Type: Cool-season Annual plant Origin: Native to Europe and Western Asia Naturalized to most of the United States

Matricaria recutita

German Chamomile

Size: 6-20" X 6-20" Form: Bushy and upright

Plant Description

Foliage: Pinnately divided leaf Aromatic - apple-scented Light green

German Chamomile

Flower: Infloresence of disc and ray flowers Small yellow disc flowers White ray flowers (may not be present or visible)

Plant Description

Ray FlowerDisc Flowers

German Chamomile

Growing conditions: Sunny to partly sunny location Hardiness: annual Propagation: Grows from seed, sow in spring; plants will readily reseed

Plant Description

Roman Chamomile

Botanical Family: Aster Family (Asteraceae) Type: Evergreen perennial Origin: Native to Europe Naturalized in some areas in US

Chamaemelum nobile

Roman Chamomile

Size: 3-6 inches tall with 12 inch spread Form: Low-growing groundcover Foliage: Pinnately divided leaf Aromatic - apple-scented Flower: Infloresence of disc and ray flowers, 1" across Small yellow disc flowers Silver-white to cream ray flowers Flowers June to September

Plant Description

Roman Chamomile

Growing conditions: Sun to part shade in well-drained soil Hardiness: Zones 4-9 Propagation: Seed, division, or stem cuttings (Division of offshoots from mother plant is easiest)

Plant Description

VocabAnnual plant - completes entire life cycle in 1 growing seasonPinnately divided leaf - feather-like leaf; leaflets attached to either side of a center stalk Inflorescence - group of flowers on stemDisc flower - flowers in center of daisy flower (the brown center on a sunflower)Ray flower - flowers that surround the disc of a daisy flower (the yellow "petals" of a sunflower)Propagation - making more plantsPerennial - plant that lives more than 2 years, usually refers to herbaceous perennial, ie a plant that dies back to the ground every fall and regrows from roots in the springDivision - propagation technique in which mother plant is cut into smaller new plants

Sources

Mimi's ppt http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/pdf/hil-8110.pdf http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1311.htm http://cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_h/h-221.pdf http://courses.missouristate.edu/ClydetteAlsup/AGH325/ID_Pages/Asteraceae_Matricaria_chamomilla.dochttp://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8112.html Flora http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=B144

For very specific growing info (for German Chamomile) - http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/dataSheet?id=7637

Image Credits:

1. Slide 1 - Steve Brace2. Slide 2 - Tico Bassie