COMPOUND FLOWERS 



175 



43. Anthemis (Chamomile) 



1. A. nobilis (Common Chamomile). 

 Stems prostrate ; leaves repeatedly cut into 

 hair-like segments, slightly downy. Well 

 distinguished by its solitary heads of flowers, 

 which droop before expansion, and by its 

 pleasant aromatic smell, which resembles 

 that of fresh apples, whence it derived its 

 name of Chamomile, signifying in Greek 

 ground-apple. The whole plant is very 

 bitter, and is valuable in medicine for its 

 tonic properties. Heaths; abundant. 

 Fl. August. Perennial. 



2. A. Cotula (Stinking Chamomile). Stem 

 erect, branched ; leaves repeatedly cut into 

 hair-like segments, smooth and with glandular 

 dots. Distinguished from the last by its 

 strong disagreeable odour and upright stems. 

 The heads of flowers are solitary, coloured 

 as in the last, but larger. The juice is very 

 acrid, and is said to blister the hands of 

 those who gather it. Waste places ; com- 

 mon. Fl. July, August. Annual. 



Less common species of Chamomile are : 



A. maritima, or more correctly A Anglica (Sea Chamomile), 

 which has repeatedly-cut fleshy leaves, which are somewhat hairy. 

 On the sea-coast ; very rare. 



A. arvensis (Corn Chamomile), the deeply-cut leaves of which are 

 white with down. 



These two have white flowers with a yellow disk. 



And A. tinctoria (Ox-eye Chamomile), which has downy, much 

 divided leaves, and large bright yellow flowers, resembling those of 

 Chrysanthemum segetum. 



0&> 



Anthemis Nobilis 

 (Common Chamomile) 



44. Achillea (Yarrow) 



1. A. millefolium (Common Yellow Milfoil). Leaves twice 

 pinnatifid, woolly, or slightly hairy ; leaflets cut into hair-like 

 segments ; flowers in dense terminal corymbs. A common road- 

 side plant, with very tough, angular stems, about a foot high, and 

 corymbs of small, white, pink, or purplish flowers, which to an 

 unpractised eye might be supposed to belong to an umbelliferous 

 plant. It has a strong and slightly, aromatic odour, and is said to 

 have the property of healing wounds. Waste ground ; frecment. 

 Fl. June to September. Perennial. 



