Tripleurospermum maritimum

Tripleurospermum maritimum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Anthemideae
Genus: Tripleurospermum
Species: T. maritimum
Binomial name
Tripleurospermum maritimum
(L.) W.D.J.Koch
Synonyms

Matricaria maritima L.

Tripleurospermum maritimum (syn. Matricaria maritima[1]) is a species of flowering plant in the aster family commonly known as false mayweed[2] or sea mayweed. It is found in many coastal areas of Northern Europe, including Scandinavia and Iceland, often growing in sand or amongst beach pebbles.

As with many maritime plants, sea mayweed has fleshy leaves which help it to survive in the harsh salty environment. The leaves are divided into short segments. When crushed, they yield a sweet smell similar to that of its relative chamomile, though much fainter.

The daisy-like flowers usually appear between July and September and can reach up to 50 mm across. The stems of the plant are frequently tinged red towards the base.

In Iceland, sea mayweed is known as Baldr's eyelashes (baldursbrá), though this name is also given to scentless mayweed in Norway and Sweden.

References

Media related to Tripleurospermum maritimum at Wikimedia Commons


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