Mayweed (Stinking Chamomile, Dogfennel)

May 8th, 2008

Botanical: Anthemis cotula
Family: N.O. Compositae

Synonyms: Maroute. Maruta cotula. Cotula Maruta foetida. Manzanilla loca. Dog Chamomile. Wild Chamomile. Camomille puante. Foetid or Stinking Chamomile or Mayweed. Dog’s Fennel. Maithes. Maithen. Mathor.
Parts Used: Flowers, leaves.
Habitat:Habitat: dry roadsides and waste places. Most are very common in the temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and America, as well as in northern and southern Africa, and some are naturalised in Australia. M. occidentalis is native to North America; other species have been introduced there.

Description: This annual herb, winter or summer annual with finely dissected leaves that may reach 2 feet in height. Primarily a weed of landscapes, nursery, and some agronomic crops that is found throughout the United States, growing freely in waste places, resembles the true Chamomile, having large, solitary flowers on erect stems, with conical, solid receptacles, but the white florets have no membraneous scales at their base. It is distinguished from the allied genera by its very foetid odour, which rubbing increases.

These are hardy, pleasantly aromatic annuals, growing along roadsides in ruderal communities and in fallow land rich in nutrients. Though many are considered nuisance weeds, they are suitable for rock gardens and herb gardens, and as border plants.

Stems below the cotyledons (hypocotyls) are green and become maroon with age. Cotyledons are thick and smooth, approximately 7 to 8 mm long. The first true leaves are opposite, but all subsequent leaves are alternate. All true leaves are thick and finely dissected with some short hairs.
Leaves: Alternate, finely dissected, approximately 3/4 to 2 1/2 inches long and 1 inch wide. Leaves emit an unpleasant odor and may have some short hairs.

The whole plant, including the fennel-like leaves, has this odour and is full of an acrid juice that has caused it to be classed among the vegetable poisons; it is liable to blister.

Its action resembles that of the Chamomiles, but it is weaker, and its odour prevents its general adoption.
Height: 6-18 inches

Flowers: Occur in solitary heads at the ends of branches. Flowers are approximately 2/3 to 1 1/3 inches in diameter and are white (ray flowers) with yellow centers (disk flowers). White ray flowers have 3 distinct teeth.

• Flower color: white rays around a yellow disk
• Flowering time: May to October
Bees dislike it, and it is said to drive away fleas.

The flowers must not be gathered when wet, or they will blacken during drying.

Identifying Characteristics: Plants with finely dissected leaves that emit an unpleasant odor and have white flowers with a yellow center. Mayweed chamomile may resemble Dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium) when in the seedling stage, however dogfennel seedlings have petiolated cotyledons and hairy stems. Pineapple-weed (Matricaria matricarioides) also has similar characteristics, but has green flowers and emits a pineapple-like odor when crushed.

Constituents: The flowers have been found to contain volatile oil, oxalic, valeric and tannic acids, salts of magnesium, iron, potassium and calcium, colouring matter, a bitter extractive and fatty matter.

Medicinal Action and Uses: The flowers are preferred for internal use, being slightly less disagreeable than the leaves. In hysteria it is used in Europe as an antispasmodic and emmenagogue. Applied to the skin fresh and bruised it is a safe vesicant. A poultice helpful in piles can be made from the herb boiled until soft, or it can be used as a bath or fomentation.

It is administered to induce sleep in asthma. In sick headache or convalescence after fever the extract may be used.

A strong decoction can cause sweating and vomiting. It is said to be nearly as valuable as opium in dysentery. It has also been used in scrofula, dysmennorrhoea and flatulent gastritis.

Dosage: Of infusion, 1 to 4 fluid ounces.
The extract of German chamomile (M. recutita) is taken as a strong tea. It has been used in herbal medicine as a carminative and anti-inflammatory. It is also used in ointments and lotions, and as a mouthwash against infections of mouth and gums. Aromatherapy uses two essential oils of chamomile: the “true chamomile” oil (or german chamomile oil, from M. recutita) and the Roman chamomile oil (from Anthemis nobilis).

Other Species: Anthemis tinctoria has similar properties and yields a yellow dye.
A. arvensis is considered in France to be one of the best indigenous febrifuges.

Species:-
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; 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)

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider

Resources:
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/maywee26.html
http://www.ct-botanical-society.org/galleries/anthemiscotu.html
http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/antco.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayweed