Leaves

The leaves are pinnately dissected, feathery, and sweet-scented when crushed.

Flowers

The flower head is cone-shaped, composed of dense-packed yellowish-green corollas, and lacking ray-florets. Very much like a daisy or chamomile with the white petals removed.

Seeds

Stem

Fruit

Taste

unsurprisingly, it tastes remarkably like pineapple! The texture isn't exactly pleasant, but that's why we use it largely for flavour infusions.

Frequency & law

Very common and not restricted.

Possible confusion

Any chamomile family plant, but once the flowers with no white petals appear it is quite clear.

Habitat

Waysides and waste places, especially along tracks, paths. by trampled gateways, and in the cracks in pavements Range N.E. Asia. An introduced and increasing weed in Britain, but welcome if you ask me.

How to harvest

Harvested in summer (March to September), it can be dried for later use. I’ve seen it growing fresh as late as November.

Cooking tips

As a tea and an infusion of flavour, an excellent choice. Not really a cooking plant though.

Other uses

The plant repels insects and is often used for companion planting with vegetables. The dried flowers are used as an insect repellent.

Folklore

When this plant was burned with human hair it was said to prevent a loved one from leaving. Similarly with the addition of horse hair it could prevent a horse from running away. It was also labelled as an indicator of salmonberry picking time.