Chamomile / Ромашка

Scientific classification

Kingdom:Plantae

Division:Magnoliophyta

Class:Magnoliopsida

Order:Asterales

Family:Asteraceae

Genus:Matricaria

Species:M. recutita

Binomial nameMatricaria recutita L.

The name Chamomile or Camomile is ambiguous and can refer to several distinct species.

German chamomile Matricaria recutita (syn. M. chamomilla)

Pineapple weed (or Wild chamomile) Matricaria matricarioides

Roman chamomile Chamaemelum nobile (syn Anthemis nobilis) the "lawn" chamomile.

Dog fennel Anthemis cotula and to some extent other Anthemis species

German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is an annual plant of the sunflower family Asteraceae. Synonyms are : Chamomilla chamomilla, Chamomilla recutita (accepted name according to the Flora Europaea), Matricaria chamomilla, and Matricaria suaveolens.

It usually grows near people all over Europe and temperate Asia. It is widely introduced in temperate North America and Australia. As the seeds need open soil to survive, it often grows near roads, around landfills and in cultivated fields as a weed.

The branched stem is erect and smooth and grows to a height of 15-60 cm. The long and narrow leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate.

The flowers are borne in paniculate capitula. The white ray florets are furnished with a ligule, while the disc florets are yellow. The hollow receptacle is swollen and lacks scales. This property distinguished German Chamomile from Corn Chamomile (Anthemis arvensis), which has a receptacle with scales. The flowers bloom in June and July.

The flowers have a strong, aromatic smell. German chamomile is used medicinally against sore stomach and as a gentle sleep aid. It is best taken as a herbal tea, two teaspoons of dried flower per cup of tea. Against sore stomach take one cup every morning without food for 2-3 months. It is also used as a mouthwash against oral mucositis.[Juneby's Medicinal Plants]. It has also acaricidal properties against certains mites, such as Psoroptes cuniculi. The primary active ingredient of the essential oil from German chamomile is bisabolol.

Chamomile is also used cosmetically, primarily to make a rinse for blonde hair.