Description: Annual herbs.
Leaves cauline, alternate, finely dissected, irregularly 2- to 3-pinnatisect with numerous linear segments.
Inflorescence terminal on leafy stems or heads stalked in corymbs. Heads hemispherical, radiate or discoid; involucral bracts herbaceous with scarious margins, 2-seriate, ± equal; receptacle conical, hollow, naked. Ray florets if present female, 1-seriate, ligulate, white. Disc florets tubular, 4- or 5-numerous, bisexual, fertile.
Achenes symmetrical, incurved, slightly compressed, ribbed, glabrous; pappus small, scarious.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 20 species, northern temperate areas. Australia: 2 species (naturalized), N.S.W., Vic., Tas., S.A.
Text by D. W. Hardin
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Heads discoid; ligules absent | Matricaria discoidea |
| Heads radiate; ligules present | Matricaria chamomilla |
|
