| Anthemis | |
|---|---|
| Corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae (Compositae) |
| Tribe: | Anthemideae |
| Genus: | Anthemis L. |
| Type species | |
| Anthemis maritima L. |
|
| Species | |
|
About 100 species, including: |
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Anthemis (Án-the-mis) is a genus of about 100 species of aromatic herbs in the Asteraceae, closely related to Chamaemelum, and like that genus, known by the common name chamomile; some species are also called dog-fennel or mayweed. However, Mayweed is improperly used for this genus since Mayweed refers to the Matricaria genus. Anthemis are native to the Mediterranean region and southwest Asia east to Iran. A number of species have also become naturalized in England/United Kingdom and in other parts of the world.
Anthemis species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Orthonama obstipata (The Gem) and Bucculatrix anthemidella, a leaf-miner which feeds exclusively on Anthemis tinctoria.
The flowers are commonly used for tea, and the leaves, when crushed, give off a scent of apples. It grows well in light, sandy soil. Nicknamed "the plants' physician", it seems to improve the health of other plants grown near it. Chamomile flowers make a good rinse for fair hair.
Anthemis contains about 100 species, including the following: