F m i [ 93o ]
A N TH EM IS nobilis.
Common Chamomile.
SYNGENESIA Polygamia-fuperflua.
G en. Char. Recent, chaffy. «SmA fcarcely bordered.
Cal. hemifphærical, nearly equal. Florets of the
radius more than 5, oblong.
S p e c . C h a r . Leaves doubly pinnate, thread-fhaped,
acute, a little downy. Scales of the receptacle
membranous, fcarcely fo long as the florets.
Syn. Anthémis nobilis. Linn. Sp. PI. 1260. Sm. FI.
Brit. 904. Hudf. 373. With. 739. Hull. 188.
Sihth. 358. Woodv. Med. Bot. t. 103.
Chamæmelum odoratilEmum repens, flore fimplici.
Rail Syn. 185.
r -p
X HE fragrant Chamomile, fo ufeful as a ftomachic medicine,
is not generally met with wild. We gathered this
fpecimen a little to the fouth of Loweftoft church, Suffolk, in
Auguft laft. It always grows on gravelly open commons,
fpreading clofe to the earth, and forming confiderable patches
among the fhort herbage of fuch places. When not in
flower its fcent betrays it if trodden upon. This quality has
induced fome curious people to plant Chamomile for a green
walk in gardens, for which purpofe it is recommended by
oreat beauty and richnefs of foliage, but receives injury from
being walked on in frofty weather.
Root perennial, ftrong. Stems proftrate, branched, villous.
Leaves bipinnate, hairy or downy; leaflets {lender,
cylindrical, entire or lobed. Flowers terminal, folitary, white
with a yellow difk, which in time becomes conical. Seeds very
obfcurely margined. Scales of the receptacle lanceolate, thin,
not riling above the florets. The whole plant is intenfely
bitter, with a peculiar but agreeable fmell. In gardens it is
generally double, the florets of the difk being all like thofe of
the radius; but fuch flowers are not reckoned fo ftrong in
flavour as the natural ones.