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Common Name: Pineapple Weed

General Information

Matricaria matricarioides is an annual plant that can grow up to 0.30 metres tall
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

N.E. Asia. An introduced and increasing weed in Britain.

Habitat

Waysides and waste places, especially along tracks, paths and by trampled gateways[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Bees, Flies
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any well-drained soil in a sunny position[].
The bruised or sun-warmed leaves emit the appealing odour of ripe apples[].

Edible Uses

Flower heads - raw or cooked[]. A tasty nibble[].

The dried flowers are used to make herb teas[]. They are pineapple scented when steeped in hot water[].

Medicinal

The flowering plant is antispasmodic, carminative, galactogogue, sedative, skin and vermifuge[, , ]. 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[]. The plant is harvested when in flower in the summer and is dried for later use[]. Some caution is advised since some individuals are allergic to this plant[].

Other Uses

The plant repels insects[]. The dried flowers are used as an insect repellent[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring or late summer in situ. Germination should take place within 3 weeks.