54 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



slightly enlarged upwards, rounded at the apex, which is embraced 

 by the base of the tube of the corolla equally on both sides, 

 with 3 striae on the inner face, smooth on the back and sides ; 

 epigynous disk small, without a distinct crown. 



On commons and pastures, particularly on gravelly soil. 

 Rather common in the South of England, becoming rarer in the 

 North ; scarce and probably not native in Scotland, though found 

 as far North as Orkney. 



England, [Scotland,] Ireland. Perennial. Late Summer 



and Autumn. 



E;Ootstock shortly creeping, much-branched. Stem rooting at 

 the base ; branches generally ascending only at the apex, rarely 

 erect. Leaves more divided than in any of the preceding species of 

 Anthemis, with the segments much shorter, finer, more numerous 

 and closer together. Peduncles elongate. Anthodes f to 1 inch 

 across. Achenes very small, pale olive-brown, nearly smooth, 

 except the 3 faint strige on the inner face, the upper part remain- 

 ing invested with the persistent base of the corolla ; epigynous 

 disk very small, with scarcely any prominent border. Plant 

 greyish- green, more or less hairy or pilose. 



Common Chamomile. 



French, Camomille Romaine. German, Romische Kamille. 



The use of this herb in medical practice is of great antiquity. Gerarde tells us 

 that "the Egyptians have used it for a remedie against all cold agues, and they 

 did therefore consecrate it, as Galen sayeth, to their deities." The flowers possess 

 certain tonic and febrifugal qualities, and at one time had a great reputation in 

 many disorders. They contain a bitter extractive matter and volatile oil, which also 

 exist in the seeds. In ancient times the powder was much used in agues, and in 

 modern times even Cullen speaks favourably of its effects. A simple infusion under 

 the name of Chamomile tea, is, or was, a very common domestic remedy for indigestion 

 and stomach complaints. Chamomile is cultivated largely in the neighbourhood of 

 Mitcham, in Surrey, and in other places in the vicinity of London. It was formerly 

 planted in garden walks, that it might be odoriferous to the tread ; and it was 

 to this practice that Falstaff alludes when he reminds the prince, that " though the 

 Chamomile, the more it is trodden on, the faster it grows, yet youth, the more it is 

 wasted, the faster it wears." Beside the use of Chamomile-flowers in infusion as a 

 drink, their power of retaining heat has recommended them as a fomentation or 

 cataplasm ; and a popular remedy for face-ache and other pains is a fomentation of 

 poppy-heads and Chamomile flowers. 



GJENUS AT.— D I O T I S. Desf. 



Anthodes homogamous and discoid, many-flowered. Clinanth 

 hemispherical or shortly conical, with palese. Pericline campanulatc- 

 hcmisphcrical, of numerous herbaceous imbricated woolly phyl- 



