Practical
Plants

Anthemis cotula

Mayweed

an annual member of the Anthemis genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.25 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Flies, Beetles, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Flies, Beetles, Self

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The whole plant is penetrated by an acrid juice, touching or ingesting the plant can cause allergies in some people[14][10].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The herb is used as a flavouring in Peru[6]. It is aromatic. Caution is advised, there are some reports of toxicity. A herb tea is made from the flowers in a similar way to camomile tea[6] and it has a similar though weaker effect medicinally[14]. The odour is not very pleasant and so it is not commonly used[14].

Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Mayweed is closely related to camomile, but is far less effective as a medicine[12]. It has been used as an antispasmodic and to induce menstruation and was traditionally used to treat supposedly hysterical conditions related to the uterus[12]. It is rarely used in contemporary herbal medicine[12]. The whole plant is antispasmodic, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, emmenagogue and tonic[14][15]. It is used internally as a tea, which can be made either from the flowers or the whole plant, though the flowers are less unpleasant and so are more commonly used[14]. An infusion is used in the treatment of a variety of complaints such as rheumatism, epilepsy, asthma, colds and fevers[13]. Applied externally, it is used as a poultice on piles or to draw splinters out of the body, and can also be applied to the bath water[14][13]. The leaves are rubbed onto insect stings[10]. Some people are allergic to the plant and this remedy could give them painful blisters[11]. This herb is contraindicated for pregnant women or nursing mothers[12].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emetic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Stings
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The growing and the dried plant is said to repel mice and fleas[14][7], it can also be used as an insecticide[9][15][2]. A gold dye is obtained from the whole plant[3][4].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, east to N. and W. Asia.
Habitat
Waste places usually on heavy soil[14][5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown outdoors as soon as it is ripe. Most of the seed germinates in the autumn.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a sunny position and a well-drained soil that is neutral to slightly acid[1][8]. Succeeds in heavy clay soils. Bees dislike this plant[14]. The leaves contain glands which release a most disagreeable odour when the plant is handled and can cause allergic reactions in people.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

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  3. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

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  4. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

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  5. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

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  6. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  7. Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0

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  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

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  9. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

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  10. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2

  11. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  12. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  13. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2

  14. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  15. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

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