COMPOUND FLOWERS. 379 



the last, but resembling it in the colour of the flowers, 

 which are, however, much larger, and are remarkable for 

 their very convex disk. When growing near the sea, 

 its leaves become fleshy, when it is called M. maritima 

 (Sea Feverfew). Fl. July October. Annual. 



3. M. Chamomilla (Wild Chamomile). Leaves smooth, 

 cut as in the last; involucre nearly plane; receptacle 

 hollow. Corn-fields. It may be distinguished from 

 M. inod6ra and Anthem-is Cotula by the scales of the 

 involucre being not chaffy at the margin, and by the 

 receptacle of the flower being hollow. FL June, August. 

 Annual. 



43. ANTHEMIS (Chamomile). 



1. A. nobilis (Common Chamomile). Stems prostrate ; 

 leaves repeatedly cut into hair-like segments, slightly 

 downy. Heaths, abundant. Well distinguished by 

 its solitary heads of flowers, which droop before expan- 

 sion, and by its pleasant aromatic smell, which resembles 

 that of fresh apples, whence it derived its name of Cha- 

 momile, signifying in Greek, ground apple. The whole 

 plant is very bitter, and is valuable in medicine for its 

 tonic properties. Fl. August. Perennial. 



2. A. Cotula (Stinking Chamomile). Stem erect, 

 branched ; leaves repeatedly cut into hair-like segments, 

 smooth. Waste places, common. 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. Fl. 

 July, August. Annual. 



* Less common species of Chamomile are A. maritima 

 (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 



