CHAMOMILE 71 



intermediate forms, or semi-double flowers, in which the conversion 

 of tubular into ligulate corollas has been only partially effected, 

 may, however, frequently be found. 



The entire flowerhead is collected and dried. 



Description. The official chamomiles are limited to the ' double ' 

 or semi-double flowerheads obtained from cultivated plants, those 

 imported from Belgium, France, and Saxony being preferred by 

 the drug trade on account of their handsome appearance, whilst 

 English flowers yield more volatile oil when distilled. 



The flowerheads are hemispherical in shape, 10 to 20 mm. in 

 diameter, and white or nearly white in colour, becoming yellow or 

 buff-coloured when kept. The involucre surrounding each flowerhead 

 consists of two or three rows of overlapping bracts with membranous 

 margins, and is almost entirely concealed in the drug by the reflexed 

 outer ligulate florets. The latter are pistillate, 

 the yellow tubular central florets (if present) being 

 hermaphrodite. The corolla of the ligulate florets 

 is white, rather narrow, and terminated by three 

 teeth ; towards the base it is contracted to a 

 short tube, immediately below which is the small, 

 nearly smooth ovary. The calyx is completely 

 adherent to the ovary, and, there is no pappus. ^IG. 40. Double 

 If the florets are all carefully plucked from the chamomile. Nat- 

 flowerhead, a number of blunt, narrow, concave, uralsize. (Bent- 

 scaly bracts (palese) with membranous wings will leyandTrimen.) 

 be found standing on a conical receptacle ; on 

 cutting a flowerhead longitudinally through the centre each floret 

 will be seen to spring from the axil of a bract, and the conical 

 receptacle will be found to be solid (or occasionally lacunous). When 

 closely examined with a powerful lens, the lower part of the corolla 

 may be seen to be sprinkled with minute, yellowish, shining oil-glands. 



Chamomiles have an aromatic odour and an aromatic, intensely 

 bitter taste. 



The student should carefully strip the florets from a flowerhead, 

 and observe 



(a) The presence and shape of the palece ; 



and should also cut a flowerhead longitudinally through the centre, 

 and note 



(6) The solid, elongated, conical receptacle. 



He should further compare these with those of the flowers of the 

 wild chamomile, German chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla, Linne), 

 and of the feverfew (Chrysanthemum Parthenium, Bernhardi), which 

 are alluded to below. He should also soak a few ligulate florets in 



