German chamomile

Matricaria chamomilla

Family: Asteraceae Genus: Matricaria Species: chamomilla

Synonyms: Matricaria deflexa, Chamomilla recutita var. bayeri, Matricaria chamomilla f. courrantiana, Matricaria coronata, Matricaria chamomilla var. suaveolens, Matricaria suaveolens f. macrocephala, Matricaria chamomilla var. courrantiana, Courrantia chamomilloides, Matricaria chamomilla subsp. courrantiana, Chamaemelum chamomilla, Matricaria recutita var. kochiana, Matricaria pusilla, Matricaria chamomilla var. tenuis, Matricaria tenuifolia f. nikolicii, Chamomilla courrantiana, Matricaria chamomilla var. pappulosa, Matricaria littoralis, Matricaria kochiana, Chamomilla chamomilla, Matricaria chamomilla var. recutita, Camomilla deflexa, Matricaria recutita f. kochiana, Chamomilla officinalis, Matricaria exigua, Camomilla patens, Matricaria chamomilla f. suaveolens, Matricaria chamaemilla, Matricaria chamomilla subsp. pusilla, Chamomilla meridionalis, Matricaria bayeri, Chrysanthemum chamomilla, Matricaria courrantiana, Matricaria obliqua, Chamaemelum vulgare, Chamomilla vulgaris, Matricaria recutita var. pappulosa, Matricaria recutita, Matricaria chamomilla var. coronata, Chamaemelum suaveolens, Chamomilla unilateralis, Matricaria recutita var. coronata, Matricaria chamomilla f. kochiana, Leucanthemum chamaemelum, Matricaria capitellata, Chamomilla recutita, Matricaria patens, Matricaria pyrethroides, Matricaria chamomilla var. pusilla

German chamomile (en)

Western Herbalism Properties

Actions:

anti-inflammatorycarminativesedativeantispasmodic

Gallery

Botanical Description

Matricaria chamomilla, the German or wild chamomile, is an aromatic annual herb of the family Asteraceae growing 15 to 60 cm tall, with erect, much-branched, smooth stems. The leaves are finely two- to three-times pinnately divided into thread-like segments, giving a feathery appearance. The numerous daisy-like flower heads are borne singly on long stalks, each with white ray florets that soon bend downward around a domed, hollow, bright yellow disc, an important feature distinguishing it from related mayweeds. The whole plant, especially the flowers, has a sweet apple-like scent. It flowers from late spring through summer. Native to Europe and western Asia and widely naturalised, German chamomile grows on disturbed ground, arable fields, roadsides and waste places, and is extensively cultivated for its flowers, which yield a blue essential oil rich in chamazulene.

Native Region: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Altay, Austria, Azores, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Buryatiya, Canary Is., Central European Rus, China North-Central, China South-Central, China Southeast, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East Aegean Is., East European Russia, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Irkutsk, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Korea, Krasnoyarsk, Kriti, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Manchuria, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar, Netherlands, North Caucasus, Northwest European R, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Portugal, Romania, Sardegna, Sicilia, Sinai, South European Russi, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Tuva, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Himalaya, West Siberia, Xinjiang, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia

Cultural & Historical Context

Traditional American Uses

None Documented

Chemistry & External Identifiers

Trefle ID

934

Important Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.

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