Matricaria matricarioides
Pineapple Weed
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Matricaria
- Life cycle
- annual
- Height
- 0.3 m
- Fertility
- Bees, Flies
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees, Flies
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.
Some people are allergic to this plant[6].
Edible uses
Flower heads - raw or cooked[2]. A tasty nibble[2]. The dried flowers are used to make herb teas[2]. They are pineapple scented when steeped in hot water[3].
- Plant part
- Flowers
- 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.
The flowering plant is antispasmodic, carminative, galactogogue, sedative, skin and vermifuge[8][2][6]. This plant is rarely used medicinally, though it is sometimes employed as a domestic remedy in the treatment of intestinal worms and also as a sedative[8]. The plant is harvested when in flower in the summer and is dried for later use[8]. Some caution is advised since some individuals are allergic to this plant[6].
- Product or use
- Antispasmodic
- Product or use
- Carminative
- Product or use
- Galactogogue
- Product or use
- Sedative
- Product or use
- Skin
- Product or use
- Vermifuge
Material uses
The plant repels insects[2]. The dried flowers are used as an insect repellent[5].
- Product or use
- Repellent
Environment
- Range
- N.E. Asia. An introduced and increasing weed in Britain.
- Habitat
- Waysides and waste places, especially along tracks, paths and by trampled gateways[1].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
Seed - sow spring or late summer in situ. Germination should take place within 3 weeks.
Cultivation
Succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position[4]. The bruised or sun-warmed leaves emit the appealing odour of ripe apples[7].
References
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00
Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest.
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6
Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2