HPIPM:False chamomile

Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Plantae
Phylum	Magnoliophyta
Class	Magnoliopsida
Superorder	Asteranae
Order	Asterales
Family	Asteraceae
Subfamily	Asteroideae
Tribe	Anthemideae
Subtribe	Anthemidinae
Genus	Tripleurospermum

Scientific Name

Tripleurospermum inodorum

Scientific Name Synonyms

Tripleurospermum perforatum

Matricaria perforata

Tripleurospermum maritimum ssp. inodorum

Matricaria inodora

Tripleurospermum perforata

Common Name

scentless chamomile

False chamomile (Matricaria perforata)

Compiled by Melissa Graves and Marjolein Schat, Montana State University from the following sources:

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/procrop/per/falsch05.htm

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=TRPE21

http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/weedguid/chamomil.htm

http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/~vista/html_pubs/WEEDS/226.html

http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex871/$file/640-6.pdf?OpenElement

Identification and Life Cycle

False chamomile (Matricaria perforata) is an annual to short lived perennial in the sunflower family (Asteraceae). It is also known as Matricaria inodora, Matricaria maritime ssp. inodora, Tripleurospermum inodorum, and Tripleurospermum perforatum. Additional common names include scentless chamomile, mayweed, and scentless mayweed. False chamomile has a Taproot system with extensive secondary roots. Stems are 1 to 3 feet tall and frequently branched, especially from the crown area. Leaves are dark green, 1 to 3 inches long, finely divided. Flowers occur singly at end of branches, are 1/2 inch in diameter, with center of yellow disk flowers and ray flowers with white petals. Seeds are gray to black, 1/16 inch long, and 3 angled.

Habitats

False chamomile is found along roadsides, fences, tree belts, and ponds. It may be a problem in cultivated fields when fall rosettes are not destroyed with spring tillage before planting.

Impacts

False chamomile does not grow well in competitive crops, but if it becomes established on bare soil or in weak plant stands it can become very aggressive and can cause significant crop yield losses.

Biology and Ecology

Scentless chamomile reproduces by seed. Seeds germinate throughout the growing season after soil temperatures reach approximately 40°F and moisture reaches 10%. Although seeds do not have a dormancy period, new seeds require light to germinate, whereas older seeds may germinate in the dark. Annual forms emerge in spring and early summer, and biennial forms emerge in summer or fall and overwinter as rosettes. Perennial forms emerge in spring or summer and produce seed early in the season. Flowers can be found from May to October. In competitive crop situations the plant tends not to produce flowers until after the crop is removed. Each plant can produce 10,000 to 200,000 seeds. False chamomile can be widely dispersed as a contaminant in crop seed and feed, on equipment, and in water.

Management Approaches

Prevention and maintaining competitive vegetative cover are keys for managing false chamomile infestations. Spot treating small infestations on bare ground near fields can prevent spread of the weed.

Biological Control

Research is being conducted on several potential biological control agents, however no agents are currently available.

Mechanical and Cultural Control

Tilling in late fall and early spring can control rosettes of biennial and perennial forms before they become more difficult to control, and can also control seedlings. Once a crown and the fibrous root system develop more thorough tillage followed by harrowing is required.

Chemical Control

There have been no reports of herbicide resistance in false chamomile in the United States, however there have been two reports of resistance to synthetic auxins in western Eruope. More information on those reports can be found at: http://www.weedscience.org/Summary/USpeciesCountry.asp?lstWeedID=116&FmSpecies=Go

Consult herbicide labels for additional rate, application, and safety information. Additional herbicide information can be found at http://www.greenbook.net.

Due to constantly changing labels, laws and regulations, the sponsors of this web site assume no liability for the suggested use of any chemicals noted in the management section. Contact your local pest management personnel for current information on labeled pesticides that can be used for the intended plant disease, insect pest or weed.

References

For more information and images please visit IPM Bugwood. http://www.ipmimages.org/search/action.cfm?q=Tripleurospermum