Mayweed, Stinking chamomile
Anthemis cotula

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A small annual herb. It grows 20-60 cm high. It has a bad smell. The stems are erect and may or may not be branched. The leaves are divided 1-3 times. The last segment is narrow and pointed. The flowers are in daisy like heads. They are white and at the end of the plant.

There are about 100 Anthemis species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant and grows in waste areas. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Caucasus, Central America, Chile, China, Dominican Republic, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Hawaii, India, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Africa, North America, Pacific, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South America, Spain, Uruguay, USA, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, West Indies

How it is used for food

The leaves are used for flavouring. The dried leaves and flowers are also used for a herbal tea.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, flavouring, tea

How it is grown

It can be grown from seed or by division.

Its other names

Local names

Amargaza, Dog fennel, Hou chun huang ju, Magarza, Mansanilla, Manzanilla cimarrona, Papatya, Stinking mayweed

Synonyms

Anthemis foetida Lamarck; Maruta cotula (Linnaeus) de Candolle; Maruta foetida (Lamarck) Cassini;