Matricaria recutita (flower)

Introduction

Introduction from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matricaria_chamomilla, retrieved 02/27/2012).

Matricaria chamomilla or German chamomile, also spelled camomile, is an annual plant of the composite family Asteraceae.

Matricaria chamomilla can be found near populated areas all over Europe and temperate Asia, and it has been widely introduced in temperate North America and Australia. It often grows near roads, around landfills, and in cultivated fields as a weed because the seeds require open soil to survive.

The word chamomile comes from the Greek χαμαίμηλον (chamaimēlon) meaning "earth-apple", which is derived from χαμαί (chamai) meaning "on the ground" and μήλον (mēlon) meaning "apple". It is so called because of the apple-like scent of the plant.

Matricaria chamomilla has a branched stem which is erect and smooth, and which grows to a height of 15–60 cm. The long and narrow leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate.

The flowers are borne in paniculate capitula. The white ray florets are furnished with a ligule, while the disc florets are yellow. The hollow receptacle is swollen and lacks scales. This property distinguishes German Chamomile from, Corn Chamomile (Anthemis arvensis), which has a receptacle with scales. The flowers bloom in early to mid summer and have a strong aromatic smell.

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Macroscopic Entries

Chamomile, Whole FlowersFlowers yellow, white, and some green; receptacle conical, hollow when cut longitudinally; phyllaries with pale dry margins.  Scent Fragrant, aromatic, pleasant.  Flavor Slightly bitter, sweet, aromatic. Source: Steven Yeager, Mountain Rose Herbs

Microscopic Entries

Chamomile (flowering parts) (Matricaria chamomilla) L., Compositae.Epidermal cells with sinuate vertical walls; abundant collapsed parenchyma tissue; very porous tracheid-like cells. No starch. The pollen grains with prominent conical projections and three pores form the most marked microscopial characteristic of the powder. The glandular trichromes are usually so much collapsed as to be unrecognizable. Source: Schneider, A. (1921) The Microanalysis of Powdered Vegetable Drugs, 2nd ed.

Chamomile papillose stigma, style and pollen grain, glycerine : deionized water, 200xepidermis has irregularly sinuous walls, often with palisade parenchmya, stomata deeply sunken surrounded by 6-8 subsidiary cells, various sizes of calcium oxalate cluster crystals abundant Source: Amy Brush, Traditional Medicinals