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WHAT IS A CORN CHAMOMILE PLANT?
Characteristics of corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis)
Common name: corn chamomile, mayweed, scentless chamomile, field chamomile.
Note: Not to be confused with German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) or common daisy (Bellis perennis)
Scientific name: Anthemis arvensis L.
Family: Composite plants
Habitat: ruderal plant, grown in crops, cultivated fields, open forests.
B0tanical description of corn chamomile
Pictured: Botanical illustration of the parts of the corn chamomile. Shown: (1) stem; (2) leaves; (3) inflorescence of the plant, where numerous tiny yellow flowers are arranged |
The corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis) is an annual plant with herbaceous stems that belongs to the botanical family of composites.
Erect stems, crowned with solitary terminal flowers.
Rhizomatic, cylindrical and creeping roots.
Leaves alternate, sessile, with acute segments, 1-3 times pinnatipartite or pinnatisect, divided into filiform segments. Each leaf is between 2 and 5 cm long and is deep green in color. All leaves are in a basal rosette.
The inflorescence of this plant is typical of composite plants, and is called flower head. This type of inflorescence is composed of dozens or hundreds of tiny flowers.
The flower head or capitulum is convex and solid, with little odor. It is characterized by having small scales or straws in the floral head, where the yellow, hermaphrodite tubular flowers are born.
On the periphery of the flower bud are arranged female ligulate flowers, which have ligules or tabs, with the appearance of petals. In reality, when we pluck the flower we are removing its ligules.
Although closely related to other types of daisies (Leucanthemum genus), these flowers are noticeably smaller in size – between 2 and 3 cm in diameter per flower head.
It blooms in late spring and summer.
The fruit is an achene without pappus, approximately 2 mm or more in length. Inside, there is the seed of the plant.
Used parts
- Leaves and flower heads.
Uses of corn chamomile
- Medicinal: It is attributed the same properties as chamomile. In France, this species is considered an excellent febrifuge, and its flower heads are used for infusions.
Composition of corn chamomile
It contains sesquiterpene lactones, the main component that causes sensitivity and dermatitis upon contact with the fresh plant, common in plants of the composite family.
Botanical classification of corn chamomile
| Botanical classification | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta Vascular plants |
| Superdivision | Spermatophyta Seed plants |
| Division | Magnoliophyta Flowering plants |
| Class | Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons |
| Subclass | Asteridae |
| Order | Asterales |
| Family | Asteraceae or Compositae |
| Genus | Anthemis |
| Species | A. arvensis |
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