Chamaemelum nobile

Chamaemelum nobile has daisy-like white flowers and procumbent stems; the leaves are alternate, bipinnate, finely dissected, and downy to glabrous. The solitary, terminal flowerheads, rising {{convert|8|-|12|in|cm|abbr=on|order=flip}} above the ground, consist of prominent yellow disk flowers and silver-white ray flowers. The flowering time in the Northern Hemisphere is June and July, and its fragrance is sweet, crisp, fruity and herbaceous.{{cite book |title=Simon & Schuster's Guide to Herbs and Spices |editor=Stanley Schuler |isbn=0-671-73489-X |author=Gualtiero Simonetti |year=1990 |publisher=Simon & Schuster, Inc |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/simonschustersgu0000simo }} Although the plant is often confused with German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), its morphology, properties and chemical composition are markedly different.{{Cite book|title=Chamomile : medicinal, biochemical, and agricultural aspects.|last=Moumita.|first=Das|date=2014|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=9781466577602|location=Boca Raton|oclc=881886704}}

The word chamomile and the genus name Chamaemelum derive from the Greek χαμαίμηλον (chamaimēlon), "earth-apple",[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3D%23113261 Chamaimelon], Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon at Perseus from χαμαί (chamai), "on the ground" + μήλον (mēlon), "apple", so-called because of the apple-like scent of the plant.

The plant obtained the name "nobile" (Latin "noble" {{Small|NEU}}){{L&S|nobilis|nobile|ref}} because of its putative therapeutic properties, which were believed to be better than those of the German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.).{{Cite book|title=Lexikon der Arzneipflanzen und Drogen|last1=Hiller|first1=Karl|last2=Melgiz|first2=Matthias F.|publisher=Spektrum Akademischer Verlag GmbH|year=1999|location=Heidelberg}}{{cite web |date=22 November 2011 |title=Assessment report on Chamaemelum nobile (L.) |url=https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-report/final-assessment-report-chamaemelum-nobile-l-all-flos_en.pdf |access-date=7 February 2021 |publisher=Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products, European Medicines Agency}}

Roman chamomile is native to Western Europe and the northwestern Maghreb, but has been introduced to a variety of areas outside its native range, where it has become naturalised. Its native range includes the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Algeria and the Azores.{{Cite web |title=Chamaemelum nobile Chamomile, Roman chamomile PFAF Plant Database |url=https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Chamaemelum+nobile |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=pfaf.org}} In Great Britain, it grows wild in Southern England and portions of Wales – primarily in Cornwall, Dartmoor, the New Forest and the Welsh coastline{{Cite web |title=Chamaemelum nobile |url=https://bsbi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/Chamaemelum_nobile_species_account.pdf |website=Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland}} – with populations found north of Derbyshire considered to be naturalised.{{Cite web |title=Chamomile |url=https://plantatlas2020.org/atlas/2cd4p9h.8ar |access-date=2024-09-05 |website=PlantAtlas}}

Chamaemelum nobile is listed as least concern on the Red List but the plant population trend in the UK is decreasing at a significant rate. This decline in the Chamaemelum nobile population was caused by the drainage of wet grasslands, decrease in grazing, and the reduction of pasture that was used as arable fields.{{Cite web|last=Group)|first=Sonia Khela (Cave Invertebrate Specialist|date=26 March 2013|title=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Chamaemelum nobile|url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/en|access-date=2020-12-11|website=IUCN Red List of Threatened Species}} There is speculation that wild plant collecting may also be a cause of this species population decline.

Although the species population is declining there are a few plants placed in at least one land and water protected area. There are no educational awareness programs, international legislations, or international management for this species.

Chamomile is likely unsafe for use during pregnancy, and its topical use for skin disorders may cause contact dermatitis. Consuming chamomile tea may adversely affect anticoagulant drugs.

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Extracts or dried flowers of Chamaemelum nobile are used in hair care and skincare products.{{Cite web|title=Chamomile – Chamaemelum nobile {{!}} Plants {{!}} Kew|url=https://www.kew.org/plants/chamomile|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.kew.org}} The plant may be used to flavor foods and in herbal teas, perfumes, and cosmetics. It is used in aromatherapy in the belief it is a calming agent to reduce stress and promote sleep. Chamomile essential oil contains sesquiterpenes, terpene lactones (including the blue compound chamazulene), acetylene derivatives, and polyphenols, which contribute to the fragrance and may be extracted individually.

File:Herb garden seat - geograph.org.uk - 544015.jpg, United Kingdom]]

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Chamomile can be planted as a fragrant chamomile lawn. A chamomile lawn needs light soil, adequate moisture, and sun to thrive. Each square meter contains 83–100 plants. The lawn is only suitable for light foot traffic; stepping-stones can be set into the lawn if more traffic is needed (with at least 10 cm between them to allow the camomile to grow{{cite web |title=Morehavens Camomile Lawns |url=https://www.camomilelawns.co.uk/pages/ideas |website=www.camomilelawns.co.uk}}). Because they do not need mowing, they are often used in places where mower access is difficult, though trimming may help make it denser. If a flowering variety is used, it will need to be deadheaded, so non-flowering varieties are lower-maintenance. Dwarf varieties are also commonly used.{{cite web |title=Camomile lawn |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=281 |publisher=rhs.org |access-date=21 July 2015}}{{cite news |last1=Holland |first1=Micheal |title=How to Grow a Chamomile Lawn {{!}} BBC Gardeners World Magazine |url=https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/chamomile-lawn/ |access-date=26 October 2024 |work=www.gardenersworld.com}}{{cite web |title=Chamomile |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/herbs/chamomile/grow-your-own |website=www.rhs.org.uk |access-date=26 October 2024 |language=en-gb}} Chamomile lawns were popular in England in the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603). Chamomile seats, smaller raised areas of fragrant lawn meant to be sat upon, were also popular, and are still used as garden features. There is a chamomile seat in the Queen's Garden at Kew Gardens.{{cite web |title=Chamomile - Chamaemelum nobile {{!}} Plants {{!}} Kew |url=https://www.kew.org/plants/chamomile |website=www.kew.org |access-date=26 October 2024}} Herb seats planted with other species, such as creeping thyme, also exist.{{cite web |title=Let’s be sitting pretty - A garden seat {{!}} a Kiwi Gardener project |url=https://www.resene.co.nz/Weekend-Gardener/Weekend-Gardener-51.htm |website=www.resene.co.nz |access-date=26 October 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Shallcross |first1=Marie |title=Midsummer Nights Dream Garden Design Inspiration |url=https://plewsgardendesign.co.uk/midsummer-nights-dream-garden-design-inspiration/ |website=Plews Garden Design |access-date=26 October 2024 |date=18 June 2023}}

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Although used in folk medicine, there are no studies confirming its medicinal efficacy. Alternative medicine practices approved in Germany include use of chamomile as a topical medication or inhalant for mouth and respiratory tract irritations.

Roman chamomile (C. nobile L.) has a history of use in traditional medicine since the Middle Ages. The European cultivation of the plant started in England in the 16th century. Its fragrant smell and soft leaves made it popular with Elizabethan gardeners, and the plant became a mainstay of herb gardens across the British Isles.{{Cite web |title=Chamomile {{!}} The Wildlife Trusts |url=https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/chamomile |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=www.wildlifetrusts.org |language=en}} C. nobile was listed first in the pharmacopoeia of Würtenberg as a carminative, painkiller, diuretic and digestive aid. Joachim Camerarius was the first to discover and name chamaemelum nobile in 1598 in Rome. In Egypt, chamaemelum nobile was used as a symbol of dedication to their gods.{{Cite web |title=Roman Chamomile: a forgotten treasure {{!}} Mecklenburgh Square Garden |url=http://mecklenburghsquaregarden.org.uk/roman-chamomile/ |access-date=2020-12-10 |language=en-GB}}

The plant has diverse common names, among which Roman chamomile or sweet chamomile are used during the 21st century.

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Category:Anthemideae

Category:Herbs

Category:Plants described in 1753

Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus