Austrian Chamomile - Cota austriaca

Alternative names
Cota austriaca
Description

In common with other mayweeds, this chamomile has a daisy like compound flower head and leaves that are finely divided although in this species the leaves are slightly more robust than in our more common mayweeds, they are also neat and uniform in appearance. It can easily be mistaken for the very similar Anthemis arvensis; however, on closer examination it can be identified by its neater, more regularly lobed leaflets and by the scales present on the back of the flower head. In Anthemis arvensis these remain pliable as the flower dies and the seeds ripen but in this species they stiffen giving the seed head a slightly prickly feel.

Similar Species

Scentless Mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum), Scented Mayweed (Matricaria chamomilla) and other Chamomiles (Anthemis and Chamaemelum nobile)

Identification difficulty
ID guidance

There are two very common and similar white daisy of waste ground and arable margins - Scentless Mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum) and Scented Mayweed (Matricaria chamomilla).  They don't have scales on the receptacle, unlike Austrian Chamomile and other chamomiles, which have scales among the yellow florets on the receptacle.  Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), Corn Chamomile (Anthemis arvensis) and Stinking Chamomile (Anthemis cotula) have all been recorded in VC55, but are scarce or very rare.

Recording advice

Either obtain confirmation from a County Recorder before submitting a record, or submit detailed images showing key features.  We recommend that you take and retain a specimen; the County Recorder may wish to see this for confirmation. 

Habitat

This species is included on many wild flower seed mixtures and is often found in newly landscaped 'wildflower meadows'. 

When to see it

Flowering occurs from early June into late September.

Life History

Annual.

UK Status

Few British records for this species at present, although that is likely to change due to its use in wild flower seed mixtures.

VC55 Status

Still an uncommon species in Leicestershire and Rutland although this may change with the use of wildflower seed mixes. It was first recorded in VC55 at Watermead in 2009.

In the most recent VC55 checklist (Jeeves, 2011) it is listed as Alien (Casual); rare

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Austrian Chamomile
Species group:
Wildflowers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Records on NatureSpot:
4
First record:
13/06/2017 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
06/10/2023 (Calow, Graham)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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