Mayweed (Anthemis cotula)

Family: Asteraceae or Compositae | Edibility: Edible (1/5)

A strong odored flowering annual with some edible, medicinal and other uses. Easily confused with A. arvensis but it's strong smell gives it away. Common Names include: mayweed chamomile; stinking chamomile; stinking mayweed. Spanish: camomilla pudenta; manzanilla hedionda; manzanillon. French: anthemis fetide; camomille des chiens; camomille maroute; camomille puante; maroute puante. Portuguese: macela-fetida. Germany: Stinkende Hundskamille.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

flavouring in Peru. — The herb is used as a flavouring in Peru.; Caution is advised, there are some reports of toxicity.; A herb tea is made from the flowers in a similar way to camomile tea and it has a similar though weaker effect medicinally.; The odour is not very pleasant and so it is not commonly used.

Habitat & North American Range

Waste places usually on heavy soil. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)