Tanacetum parthenium

Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch. Bip.

Order	Asterales
Family	Compositae
Genus	Tanacetum

2n =

Origin : North-East Mediterranean

cultivated

English	{{{english}}}
French	{{{french}}}

Description

leaf showing the broad lobes

• Leaves compound with broad segments.
• Receptacle without paleas between the flowers.

Popular names

• English: feverfew
• French: grande camomille

see general discussion on chamomile.

Classification

Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Sch. Bip. (1844)

syn.:

• Matricaria parthenium L. (1753)
• Chrysanthemum parthenium (L.) Bernh. (1800)
• Pyrethrum parthenium (L.) Sm. (1800)

Cultivars

Usual cultivars have only one row of ligulate flowers. Some have more rows, and some have only ligulate flowers. Fournier (1952) distinguishes varieties with pale green (var. aureum) ou glaucous (var. glaucum) leaves, and varieties with no ray flowers (var. discoideum), with laciniated ray flowers (var. laciniatum) or with all flowers being white ray flowers fleurs (var. flore pleno).

History

Feverfew is native of the Balkan Peninsula, Anatolia and the Caucasus. Its cultivation has spread around the world (Europe, the Mediterranean, North America and Chile).

Uses

• Ornamental
• Human medicine
• Beverage

References

• Fournier, Paul Victor, 1951-52. Flore illustrée des jardins et des parcs. Paris, Lechevalier. 3 vol. text, 339 + 549 + 536 p. et 1 vol. 181 tables. (Encyclopédie biologique, 38, 39, 40, 44). "Chrysanthemum parthenium" in vol. 3, 1952, p.456.

Links

• IPNI
• GRIN
• Mansfeld
• Prota4U
• Plants for a Future
• Tela Botanica
• Cazin 1868 "Matricaire"