Anthemis cotula L.
stinking mayweed
Strongly foetid annual herb. Stems erect or ascending, (5)-30-40-(60) cm tall, striate, almost glabrous to moderately hairy especially above, usually much-branched from base, rooting in lower part. Basal and lower cauline lvs apetiolate, ovate to obovate-oblong, glabrous to sparsely hairy and glandular, 3-pinnatisect, up to 8 cm long; ultimate segments subulate to linear, entire, not all in one plane giving a somewhat feathery appearance to the lf; cauline lvs similar to basal, smaller and less divided near capitula, usually ovate-oblong. Involucral bracts glabrous to moderately hairy, 2-6 mm long; margins and apex of at least inner bracts membranous. Capitula solitary, c. 15-30-(35) mm diam.; ray florets 8-21, very rarely 0; ligules white, becoming reflexed; disc florets numerous, yellow. Scales usually confined to inner ⅔ of receptacle, linear, acute. Achenes 1.3-1.7 mm long, obconic, narrowed slightly at apex, circular in section, brown, obscurely ribbed; ribs usually prominently tuberculate, rarely whole achene almost smooth; pappus 0.
N.: throughout; S.: Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury.
Europe, N. Africa, Caucasia to Iran and Iraq 1878
Waste places, especially roadsides, pasture, lawns.
FL (Aug)-Dec-Mar-(Jun).
Stinking mayweed is a common plant of waste places. It can be distinguished from A. arvensis and Chamaemelum nobile, with which it has been confused in N.Z., by the shape of the receptacle scales (Fig. 16) and achenes (Fig. 17). The achenes are usually distinctly tuberculate, but in some forms the tubercules are scattered or altogether absent. Rarely rayless forms are found.
