pineappleweed

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• disc mayweed
• pineappleweed
• rayless chamomile
• false chamomile
• pineapple-weed
• rounded chamomile
• rayless mayweed
• wild chamomile

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Chamomilla discoidea
• Chamomilla suaveolens
• Lepidotheca suaveolens
• Chrysanthemum discodes
• Pyrethrum defloratum
• Akylopsis suaveolens
• Lepidanthus suaveolens
• Tanacetum suaveolens
• Matricaria tanacetoides
• Cotula matricarioides
• Santolina suaveolens
• Tanacetum matricarioides

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Matricaria discoidea, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. It is ultimately classified under the genus Matricaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Matricaria discoidea, exhibits a specific presence across several regions in Northern Europe. Its geographical range includes the coastal and inland areas of Denmark and Finland. The species can also be found growing within the archipelago of the Faroe Islands. Additionally, it is distributed across the territory of Great Britain. Finally, its northern reach extends to the unique landscapes of Iceland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Matricaria discoidea is characterized by its presence in lowland environments, where it thrives across a specific altitudinal gradient. This species is typically found at elevations ranging from 0 m AMSL to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. By inhabiting these lower-altitude regions, the plant occupies ecological niches that are often defined by warmer temperatures and specific soil compositions common to lowland habitats.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Matricaria discoidea is characterized by its existence as an annual plant, completing its entire developmental cycle from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives unfavorable environmental conditions primarily through the production of resilient seeds rather than persistent vegetative structures. Its growth habit is strictly deciduous, meaning it lacks any permanent above-ground woody tissue and withers completely after the reproductive phase is concluded. This life strategy allows the species to rapidly exploit ephemeral resources and colonize disturbed habitats, relying on its annual lifecycle to ensure the continuation of the population through seed dispersal.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Matricaria discoidea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing tendencies and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial lifestyle. The plant reaches a modest height, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.4 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.1525 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.4 m

Plant height mean:

0.1525 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Matricaria discoidea is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic strategy for carbon fixation. The plant is non-carnivorous and does not possess the capability to act as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil-based nutrient uptake. Its leaf morphology plays a significant role in its resource management, exhibiting a mean leaf size of 3.56 cm² and a mean leaf width of 1.3 cm, with the width remaining consistent at a minimum and maximum of 1.3 cm. The leaves can reach a maximum length of 5 cm, supporting a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 240.43 cm²/g, which indicates the efficiency of its leaf structure in balancing light interception and biomass investment.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf size mean:

3.56 cm²

Leaf width mean:

1.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

240.43 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Matricaria discoidea is characterized by a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period typically begins in June and extends through September. The plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects such as flies to facilitate fertilization, which is known to be present within the species. Following successful pollination, the plant produces dry, indehiscent fruits classified as achenes. These fruits have an average length of 0.2 cm. The reproductive output is high, with each fruit yielding more than 1,000 seeds. These seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of approximately 0.000155916666666667 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.000109 g to a maximum of 0.00018 g) and a mean volume of 0.131 mm³ (ranging from 0.082 mm³ to a maximum of 0.18 mm³). Dispersal of the seeds occurs through unspecialized methods as well as anthropochory, allowing the species to spread effectively.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length mean:

0.2 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

fly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass max:

0.00018 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000155916666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.000109 g

Seed volume max:

0.18 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.131 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.082 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Matricaria discoidea has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CHS.

CHS

1. Planta medica

Preparations

Matricaria discoidea has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include dichloromethane and 80 % ethanol extracts.

Dichloromethane and 80 % ethanol extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology