124. Matricaria Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 890. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 380. 1754.
Mayweed, chamomile, matricary, matricaire, chamomille [Greek matrix, womb, and -aria, pertaining to; alluding to reputed medicinal properties]
Luc Brouillet
Chamomilla Gray
Annuals, (1–)10–25(–80) cm (taprooted; often aromatic). Stems 1–10+, usually erect or ascending, sometimes decumbent, branched or not, glabrous or glabrate to sparsely hairy (hairs basifixed). Leaves (not marcescent) basal (soon withering) and cauline; alternate; subpetiolate or sessile; blades spatulate to oblong or ovate (bases sheathing or clasping, often pinnately auriculate), (1–)2–3-pinnately lobed (lobes linear, often curved distally), ultimate margins entire (± recurved), mucronate, faces glabrous or glabrate to sparsely hairy (hairs basifixed). Heads radiate or discoid, borne singly or in open, corymbiform arrays. Involucres patelliform, 4–14 mm diam. Phyllaries persistent, 25–50 in [2–]3–4[–5] series, distinct, oblong or ovate to spatulate or linear-spatulate (membranous, not carinate, bases not indurate), subequal, margins and apices (hyaline) scarious (apices rounded to obtuse). Receptacles conic to oblong-ovoid [subulate] (hollow), epaleate. Ray florets 0 or 10–22, pistillate, fertile; corollas white, laminae elliptic-ovate. Disc florets 120–750+, bisexual, fertile; corollas (persisting in fruit, often slightly asymmetric, sometimes with scattered, sessile, golden glands) yellow to greenish yellow or yellowish green, tubes ± dilated), throats urceolate to campanulate, lobes 4–5 (spreading), deltate [with resin sacs]. Cypselae obconic, slightly compressed (usually asymmetric, apices oblique), ribs [3–]5, faces glabrous, smooth between ribs (pericarps sometimes with myxogenic cells abaxially and/or in ribs; embryo sac development monosporic); pappi 0, coroniform, or (sometimes on ray cypselae) adaxial auricles. x = 9.
Species 7 (3 in the flora): North America, Eurasia, North Africa, some species widespread weeds in the southern hemisphere.
Matricaria has been confused with Tripleurospermum (see discussion under the latter). Typification of Matricaria was discussed by K. Bremer and C. J. Humphries (1993), who rejected the arguments of S. Rauschert (1974) in favor of the use of Chamomilla over Matricaria.
