43 2 



COMPOSITE 



598. COTULA. MAYWEED. WILD CHAMOMILE. The herb of Anthe'mis cotu'la 

 Linn6. Habitat: Europe; naturalized in the United States. It has essen- 

 tially the same properties as anthemis and chamomile, but has a disadvantage 

 for general use in its strong, disagreeable odor. It is popularly used as a sudor- 

 ific and antispasmodic, in doses of ^ to 2 dr. (2 to 8 Gm.), in infusion. 



FIG. 254. Matricaria chamomilla Branch and dissected flowers. 



599. MATRICARIA. MATRICARIA 



GERMAN CHAMOMILE 

 The dried flower-heads of Matrica'ria chamomil'la Linne". 



BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS. Plant annual; stem i to 2 feet high, much branched. 



Leaves alternate, more or less pinnate, smooth. Heads solitary; ray- florets 



white, pistillate, spreading, soon reflexed; disk- florets deep yellow, perfect; 



pappus none. The flowers have a peculiar aroma and a bitter aromatic 



taste. 

 SOURCE. Europe and Asia. The genus Matricaria is widely distributed; two or 



three species of the "wild chamomile" of this genus have been introduced 



into the United States. 



