Wild Chrysanthemum, Mother chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum indicum

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb which keeps growing from year to year. It grows 25-100 cm tall. It forms rhizomes or stolons. The leaves are narrowly oval and 3-7 cm long by 2-4 cm wide. They are pale green on both sides. The leaves have lobes. It produces clusters of single yellow flowers. These are 2.5 cm across.

There are about 20-40 Chrysanthemum species and many cultivated varieties.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in grasslands on mountain slopes, in wet places along rivers and in salty soils near sea shores between 100-2,900 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Bhutan, Central Asia, China, Dominican Republic, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Laos, Nepal, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Russia, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, West Indies

How it is used for food

The roots and leaves are used as food. The young leaves are eaten fresh or boiled. The flower heads are pickled in vinegar. The flower heads are used for tea. The seeds are edible.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, roots, flowers, seeds

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Akkarakkaram, Bagaur, Chamunti, Gendi, Godawari, Guldaudi, Guledawoodi, Sevanti, Shevati, Ye Ju

Synonyms

Dendranthema indicum (L.) Des Moul.;