{"id":40853,"date":"2022-04-28T14:15:36","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T13:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/?p=40853"},"modified":"2025-01-30T10:23:33","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T10:23:33","slug":"identification-guide-for-german-chamomile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/04\/28\/identification-guide-for-german-chamomile\/","title":{"rendered":"German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) Identification Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><strong>German Chamomile \/ Spring \/ Summer \/ Edible<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-40853 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-medium'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/04\/28\/identification-guide-for-german-chamomile\/german-chamomile-close-up-of-the-leaves\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-leaves-300x168.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-40860\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-leaves-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-leaves-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-leaves.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-40860'>\n\t\t\t\tMichel Roug\u00c9, CC BY-SA 2.0 FR , via Wikimedia Commons\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/04\/28\/identification-guide-for-german-chamomile\/konica-minolta-digital-camera\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-flower-300x300.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-40859\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-flower-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-flower-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-flower-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-flower-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-flower.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-40859'>\n\t\t\t\tAlain Bigou, CC BY-SA 2.0 FR , via Wikimedia Commons\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/04\/28\/identification-guide-for-german-chamomile\/german-chamomile-shot-of-the-plant-in-spring\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-shot-of-the-plant-in-spring-300x200.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-40858\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-shot-of-the-plant-in-spring-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-shot-of-the-plant-in-spring-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-shot-of-the-plant-in-spring.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-40858'>\n\t\t\t\tVal71, CC BY-SA 2.0 FR , via Wikimedia Commons\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/04\/28\/identification-guide-for-german-chamomile\/german-chamomile-close-up-of-a-flower\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-a-flower-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-a-flower-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-a-flower-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-a-flower.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/04\/28\/identification-guide-for-german-chamomile\/german-chamomile-dried-flowers-for-teas\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"211\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-dried-flowers-for-teas-300x211.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-40855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-dried-flowers-for-teas-300x211.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-dried-flowers-for-teas-150x106.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-dried-flowers-for-teas.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-40855'>\n\t\t\t\t\u0422\u0441\u043d\u0435\u043d\u0430 at Serbian Wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/04\/28\/identification-guide-for-german-chamomile\/german-chamomile-flower-cut-in-half\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-flower-cut-in-half-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-flower-cut-in-half-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-flower-cut-in-half-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-flower-cut-in-half.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>German Chamomile is A non-native annual member of the daisy family, it can be used in the same way as the less common English Chamomile.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Common Names<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Chamomile, Camomile, German chamomile, Hungarian chamomile, Wild chamomile, Blue chamomile, or Scented mayweed<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Botanical Name<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Matricaria chamomilla<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Scientific Classification<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Kingdom<\/strong> \u2013 Plantae<\/p>\n<p><strong>Order<\/strong> \u2013 Asterales<\/p>\n<p><strong>Family<\/strong> \u2013 Asteraceae<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Physical Characteristics for German Chamomile <\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2><strong>Leaves<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The leaves are very small, 2 times pinnate, finely divided and downy to touch. They have an apple like aroma when they are crushed.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_40860\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-40860\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-40860\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-leaves-300x168.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-leaves-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-leaves-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-leaves.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-40860\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Michel Roug\u00c9, CC BY-SA 2.0 FR , via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_40858\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-40858\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-40858\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-shot-of-the-plant-in-spring-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-shot-of-the-plant-in-spring-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-shot-of-the-plant-in-spring-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-shot-of-the-plant-in-spring.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-40858\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Val71, CC BY-SA 2.0 FR , via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Flowers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The flowers grow at the top of a green, hairy stem that is around 20 cm tall. They look like daisy flowers with yellow disc florets and white ray florets. Around 2 cm in diameter. They look very similar to the flowers of English Chamomile, the main difference is that the yellow centre tends to be larger on the English variety.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_40859\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-40859\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-40859\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-flower-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-flower-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-flower-450x450.jpg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-flower-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-flower-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-close-up-of-the-flower.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-40859\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alain Bigou, CC BY-SA 2.0 FR , via Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Habitat<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s a grassland plant and can be found in meadows, cliff edges and coastal paths.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Known Hazards<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Chamomile is likely unsafe for use during pregnancy, and its topical use for skin disorders may cause contact dermatitis.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Could be Confused with&#8230;<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The closely related <a href=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2022\/04\/28\/identification-guide-for-english-chamomile\/\">English chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)<\/a> which can be used in the same way. To tell the two apart cut the flower receptacle, (the portion of the blossom that connects the bloom to the flower stalk) in half. If the receptacle has a solid interior, the camomile plant is English. If the receptacle has a hollow interior, the camomile plant is German.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2020\/04\/28\/identify-pineapple-weed\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-40854\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-flower-cut-in-half-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-flower-cut-in-half-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-flower-cut-in-half-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/German-chamomile-flower-cut-in-half.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2020\/04\/28\/identify-pineapple-weed\/\">Pineapple Weed (Matricaria discoidea<\/a>) also looks similar and it can be used in the same way as the Chamomile but the leaves have a pineapple like scent when they are crushed.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Edible Uses<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The plant has a long history of use as a flavouring for food, herbal teas and cosmetics.<\/p>\n<p>The fresh or dried flowers can be used to make your own teas, simply steep them in boiling water for 5 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>The plant is used by a few craft brewers as a flavouring.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Notes on Herbal Uses<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The plant has been used in traditional medicine since the Middle Ages and is classed as a carminative, painkiller, diuretic and digestive aid. It is also used as a mild laxative and has an anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects. It was also used to treat gynaecologic complaints such as menstrual cramps and sleep disorders related to premenstrual syndrome. The plant has been found to contain fairly strong antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory constituents and is particularly effective in treating stomach and intestinal cramps<\/p>\n<p>The main constituents of chamomile flowers are polyphenol compounds, including apigenin, quercetin, patuletin, and luteolin, and preliminary research shows that it may have anti-anxiety properties.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Extra notes from the Foragers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>As I said due to habitat loss and changes to land use it\u2019s getting harder and harder to find Chamomiles, instead use Pineapple Weed, it\u2019s more common, has a lovely aroma and can be used in the same way.<\/p>\n<p>The name chamomile comes from the Greek word chamaim\u0113lon meaning &#8220;earth-apple&#8221; in reference to the scent of the leaves when they are crushed. The common name Blue chamomile comes from the blue essential oil that is extracted from the plant.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>References:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wildlifetrusts.org\/wildlife-explorer\/wildflowers\/chamomile\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">From the Wildlife Trust<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.plantlife.org.uk\/uk\/discover-wild-plants-nature\/plant-fungi-species\/chamomile#:~:text=Where%20to%20find%20Chamomile.,open%20glades%20in%20light%20woodland.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">From Plantlife<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardenguides.com\/139258-native-plants-germany.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.gardenguides.com\/139258-native-plants-germany.html<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>German Chamomile \/ Spring \/ Summer \/ Edible German Chamomile is A non-native annual member of the daisy family, it can be used in the same way as the less common English Chamomile. Common Names Chamomile, Camomile, German chamomile, Hungarian chamomile, Wild chamomile, Blue chamomile, or Scented mayweed Botanical Name&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":40859,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[101,1780,85,86,1776,1777],"tags":[613,239,1371,1358,1357,152,1368,1369,1367,2560,104,238,1370],"class_list":["post-40853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-plant-identification","category-edible","category-foraging","category-plants","category-spring","category-summer","tag-asteraceae","tag-autumn","tag-blue-chamomile","tag-camomile","tag-chamomile","tag-edible","tag-german-chamomile","tag-hungarian-chamomile","tag-matricaria-chamomilla","tag-scented-mayweed","tag-spring","tag-summer","tag-wild-chamomile"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40853"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40853\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":117387,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40853\/revisions\/117387"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}