Taxonomy

Anthemis cotula L., Sp. Pl. 2:894. 1753

Common synonyms

Anthemis cotula subsp. cotula; Anthemis cotula subsp. psorosperma (Ten.) Arcang.; Anthemis cotula var. cotula; Anthemis cotula var. vectensis (F.N.Williams) P.D.Sell; Anthemis foetida Lam.; Anthemis foetida var. foetida; Anthemis foetida var. vectensis F.N.Williams; Anthemis psorosperma Ten.; Anthemis ramosa Link; Anthemis ramosa Link ex Spreng.; Chamaemelum cotula (L.) All.; Maruta cotula (L.) DC.; Maruta cotula var. cotula; Maruta foetida Cass.

Common name

(Stinking) chamomile, mayweed, dog fennel

Description

Propagule or dispersal unit is the fruit. Fertile part 1.2-2.3 mm long, 0.4-1.1 mm wide, in side view widest in upper part (obovoid), +/- straight, the upper (apical) end narrowing, in cross-section round (terete), basal scar (carpopodium) pronounced and well-differentiated or inconspicuous and undifferentiated, central, beak (=thinner sterile stalk between seed and pappus) absent, wings absent, fruit surface light brown or straw or dark brown, smooth (except at cellular level), rarely with round protrusions or bumps, with no hairs (glabrous), glands or glandular hairs, rarely woolly / crispate hairs, thickened margin absent, longitudinal ribs present, 7-12, their surfaces bumpy or notched, with no hairs (glabrous), glands or glandular hairs, rarely woolly / crispy hairs.

Pappus absent.

Ecology

Annual herb, seeds without obvious adaptations for dispersal, presumably often introduced with contaminated seed or as a medicinal plant. Temperate to Mediterranean regions. Found as a weed of agricultural crops, in nurseries and disturbed sites, and along roads.

Native range

Around the Mediterranean, Middle East, Caucasus

Introduced range

Canada, United States, southern South America (most common in Argentina), most of Europe beyond the natural range, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand