COMPOSITE. lAnthemis. 



a terminal corymb. Whole plant bitter and aromatic, formerly much 

 used in medicine, and for domestic purposes. The curled variety com- 

 mon in gardens is considered the mildest and most wholesome for use. 



18. ANTHEMIS. Linn. Chamomile. 



Involucre hemispherical, imbricated, with nearly equal scales, 

 whose margins are membranaceous. Receptacle convex, 

 chaffy. Fruit crowned with a membranaceous border or pap- 

 pus. Name; avOcpov, a flower, from the profusion of its blos- 

 soms. Syngenesia. Superflua. 



1. A. nobilis, Linn. Common Chamomile. Leaves bipin- 

 nate, the segments linear-subulate, a little downy ; scales of the 

 receptacle membranaceous, scarcely longer than the disk. 

 Br. PL 1. p. 366. E. Fl. iii. p. 456. E. Bot. t. 980. 



Sandy open fields near Calnafersy, Killarney, and other places in the 

 County of Kerry. Southern and western parts of the County of Cork ; 

 Mr. J. Drummond. On Knock- Cree, near Lough Bray, County of 

 Wicklow ; Mr. James Gunning. Derry ; Mr. D. Moore. FL Aug. 

 1. Stems about a foot long, procumbent and much branched, each 

 branch terminated by a single flower, whose disk is yellow, at length 

 conical, and ray white. The whole plant "is intensely bitter, highly 

 aromatic, and much used in medicine. " Its principal virtues are sup- 

 posed to reside in the involucre or common calyx which surrounds the 

 numerous florets in each head, as it contains an essential oil. The va- 

 riety with double flowers whose yellow tubular florets are entirely, or 

 partially, transformed into white ligulate ones, is commonly cultivated 

 in gardens for use ; although the flowers of those in the natural state 

 are now acknowledged to be stronger." Smith. 



2. A. arvensis, Linn. Corn Chamomile. Leaves bipinna- 

 tifid, their segments linear-lanceolate, pubescent; receptacle 

 conical, its scales lanceolate ; fruit crowned with an entire 

 pappus. Br. Fl. 1. p. 367. E. Fl. v. iii. p. 457. E. Dot. t. 

 602. 



Corn fields and waste ground, but not common. In the Phoenix 

 Park near the Hibernian School, and near Lambeg, County of Down ; 

 Mr. Templeton. FL July, Aug. Q.Slem upright, mu2h branched, and 

 as well as the leaves, hoary with down ; each branch terminating with 

 a single flower, whose disk is yellow, the ray broad and white. 



3. A. Cotula, Linn. Stinking Chamomile. Leaves bipin- 

 natifid, their segments subulate ; receptacle conical, its scales 

 setaceous; pappus none. Br. FL 1. p. 367. E. FL v. iii. p. 

 458. E. Bot. t. 1772. 



Waste places, corn fields, and by way sides. FL July, Aug. Q. 

 Stem a foot or more high, glabrous. Flowers solitary, terminal, 

 their disk convex, pale yellow, ray rather large, white. The whole plant 

 has a fetid smell, and is said to blister the hands of those who gather it. 

 When examined with a microscope, it is found to be sprinkled all over 

 with little glands, in which the acrid matter is probably lodged. Hooker. 



