Pineapple Weed
Disc Mayweed
Matricaria discoidea
(Chamomilla sueveolens
Matricaria matricarioides)
Photographed in Glendale, Maricopa Co., Arizona. April 2016.
ANNUAL: Very small to medium-sized annual of spring time in the Sonoran Desert. Few
plants exceed 10 cm in
height with several stems branching from near base.
FLOWERS: Numerous pale green-yellow disc flowers arranged conically and
without rays. The effect is that the flower heads look like tiny buttons.
Opening March to May.
LEAVES: Smooth leaves are
pinnately divided into narrow segments. On crushing they sometimes emit
pineapple or chamomile aroma. Some plants have little or no such aroma.
RANGE: Requires a good supply of moisture and so is typically found in
riparian habitats or as a weed in irrigated gardens.
FRUIT: Small seeds topped with papery scales.
UNARMED. Lacks spines/thorns.