ANTHEMIS PYRETHRUM. 
Spanish Chamomile, or Pellitory of Spain.* 
Class Syngenesia. — Order Polygamia Superflua. 
Nat. Ord. COMFOSITM DlSCOtDE^, Linn. CoRYMBIFERiE, Jm**. 
Gen. Char. Receptacle chaffy. tSeec? Down none» or a mem- 
branaceous margin. Calyx hemispherical, nearly equal. 
Florets of the ray more than five. 
Spec. Char. Stems simple, 1-flowered, decumbent. Leaves 
bipinnated, segments linear, pointed. 
This species of Anthemis is a perennial plant, flowering in June 
and July; it is a native of the Levant, the South of Europe, Syria, 
Barbary, and Arabia. It was first cultivated in England about the 
year 1570, by Lobel,t and now adorns many of our botanic gardens ; 
but it docs not ripen its seeds here, unless the season proves very hot 
and dry .J 
The root is long, (from twelve to eighteen inches) tapering, exter- 
nally of a pale whitish brown, and sends off many small fibres j from 
the root rises several stems to the height of about ten or twelve 
inches, (each bearing one flower,) round, simple and trailing ; the 
leaves are doubly pinnated, the segments of which are linear, narrow, 
iSnd of a pale green colour ; the flowers are large, the florets of the 
disc yellow, those of the radius white on the upper side, and purple 
on the under side ; the diflferent florets resemble those of the Anthe- 
mis Nobilis, which has been already described. 
Sensible and Chemical Properties. The dried roots of 
Pyrethrum have little or no smell, but a very hot pungent taste 
when chewed, excite a glowing heat in the mouth, and a copious dis- 
charge of saliva. In their recent state it is said they act like the bark 
of Mezereon, and excite inflapimation if apphed to the skin.§ This 
* Fig. a. a floret of the radius, b. A floret of the disc. c. The stamens. J. The 
style. 
+ Hortas Kewefisis. 
% Miller's Dictionary. 
$ Bergius. 
