Chamaemelum

Chamaemelum is a small genus of plants in the daisy family commonly known as chamomiles or dogfennels. Perhaps the best-known species is Roman chamomile, Chamaemelum nobile. These are annual or perennial herbs, rarely exceeding half a meter in height and usually bearing solitary white daisylike flowers with yellow centers. They are native to Europe but most species can be found scattered in other continents where they have been introduced. The genus consists of only two species and is of the Asteraceae family.

Embryo sac development in Chamaemelum differs from that of Anthemis, with Chamaemelum exhibiting monosporic embryo sac formation, while all members of Anthemis have tetrasporic embryo sac. Anthemis and Chamaemelum have some differences in fruit and corolla structure, embryo sac development, and phytochemical data, and the closeness of their relationship has been debated.

Chamaemelum was first mentioned by Linnaeus in Genera pIanta rum and had its generic name validated by Linnaeus in 1753 with the first edition of Species plantarum. There was uncertainty surrounding the correct demarcation of the two genera, Anthemis (which used to be a name of Chamaemelum) and Anacyclus, for decades.

Species

 * Chamaemelum fuscatum (Brot.) Vasc. - dusky dogfennel - Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Channel Islands (UK), Malta, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco
 * Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. - Roman chamomile - much of Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa from Azores + Ireland to Algeria + Kazakhstan