Latin anthemis — a name used by Pliny (23–79) for a chamomile.
Annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs, strongly scented. Stems erect, ascending or sprawling. Leaves mostly along lower stems, alternate, lobed to once or twice divided, rarely entire. Capitula radiate or diskoid, terminal, solitary or a few together in open corymbs, with stalks. Involucral bracts in several rows, overlapping, unequal. Receptacle usually with scales, convex to conical. Outer florets female, ligulate or tubular, usually white, rarely yellow or reddish. Inner florets bisexual or functionally male, tubular, yellow or rarely reddish. Achenes top-shaped, smooth or ribbed. Pappus a crown, an ear-like lobe or absent.
A few species have become minor weeds in Australia.
Strongly scented, with usually finely divided leaves.
About 210 species from Europe, Asia and Africa.
Bremer & Humphries (1993).
Source: (2002). Asteraceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
