THE SCENTLESS MAYWEED. 63 



and the flower-heads smaller. From the locality in which 

 it is found it is either considered as Matricaria inodora, 

 var. maritima, or by other botanists, who raise it to the 

 rank of an independent species, it is called Matricaria 

 marifima. 



The scentless mayweed owes its generic name, Matri- 

 carirt, to its reputed medicinal properties, while the specific 

 name, inodora, signifies scentless. Though, compared with 

 several of its allies, it may almost be termed scentless, the 

 term is not strictly appropriate, as a slightly aromatic odour 

 is yielded, while the name mayweed is equally inaccurate 

 if really criticised. It appears to us at least somewhat of 

 a misnomer to call a plant that yields some little aroma, 

 and that may be met with in flower throughout the whole 

 of the summer and autumn, the scentless mayweed. The 

 plant is by some botanists called the Chrysanthemum 

 Inodorum, by others the Pi/rethrnm inodonim, names that 

 in themselves sufficiently indicate the slight points of dif- 

 ference between this and some few other species, and that 

 lead botanists therefore to place it sometimes in one genus, 

 sometimes in another. 



The medicinal properties of the present plant seem to be 

 of a very slight character. An allied species, the Matri- 

 caria Partheninm, possesses a certain bitter and tonic 

 principle that has been at times pressed into the service of 

 the healing art, while its common English name, the 

 feverfew, points to the old belief in its efficacy ; the signifi- 

 cance being that fever patients need be but few in number 

 were the virtues of this plant sufficiently appreciated and 

 utilised. The little crimson-tipped daisy and the ox-eye 

 are very near relations, as the general appearance of the 

 plants would lead one readily to suppose, and the milfoil, 



