Camomile varieties differ in the composition of their ingredients. But there is also a risk of confusion with poisonous chamomile species.
It's not that easy with chamomile types and varieties. There are some plant species that have the German name chamomile, but belong to a different plant genus than real chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla). However, some have similar ingredients and are also used in medicine.
Camomile types and varieties
The genus of chamomile (Matricaria) includes about 25 species, two of which are native to us, namely the real chamomile and the radiant chamomile (Matricaria discoidea). The closely related genus of sea chamomile (Tripleurospermum) consists of around 40 species, two of which occur naturally in Germany. These are the rare Coastal Sea Chamomile (Tripleurospermum maritimum) and Scentless Sea Chamomile (Tripleurospermum inodorum). There are also other chamomile species from other genera that look very similar to real chamomile and offer a wide range of uses.
Camomile
True chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) is known almost everywhere, not least because of the coveted chamomile tea. For this reason it is cultivated commercially, but it can also still be found growing wild in Germany. Breeding work is also carried out on real chamomile. The aim is to vary the composition of the valuable ingredients. But a uniform growth is also pursued as a breeding goal for the commercial cultivation of chamomile. Examples of important types are:
- 'Bodegold': Aromatic and large-flowered variety
- ‘Gosal‘: Chamomile oil contains a lot of bisabolol
- ‘Zloty Lan‘: The essential oil contains a high proportion of the blue coloring chamazulan
When harvesting camomile by the wayside or in fields and meadows, there is not only a risk of confusion with less effective doubles,but also with poisonous chamomile species such as dog chamomile (Anthemis). It is therefore important to know the concise characteristics of the popular medicinal herb:
- Round bulging base with many yellow tubular flowers.
- If you cut the flowers in half through a cross section, the base of the flower is hollow on the inside.
- The real chamomile reaches a size of up to 50 cm.
- All parts of the plant have a distinctive chamomile smell when you rub them in your hands.
Radiationless Chamomile
The rayless chamomile (Matricaria discoidea) belongs to the same genus as the true chamomile. It stands out because it has no white ray florets, but the flower head consists only of the yellow tubular florets in the middle. The lack of ray florets serves as an obvious but very important distinguishing feature between true chamomile and rayless chamomile. Both have in common the hollow base and the intense scent of camomile. In terms of ingredients, however, the radiant chamomile is less well equipped than the real chamomile. It can be used as a medicinal plant in a similar way, but the effect is less pronounced.
Roman Chamomile
Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) belongs to a different genus, but is almost identical in appearance and effect to real chamomile. Unlike chamomile, however, it is a perennial herb. With a size of 15 to 30 cm, it is much smaller than the related medicinal herb, but is in no way inferior to it in its beneficial effect due to the similar ingredients it contains. Another distinguishing feature are the leaves, which appear somewhat finer pinnate in Roman chamomile. In addition, the bottom of the head is filled with pith when cut open and not hollow like in real chamomile.
Odorless Chamomile
Scentless chamomile (Tripleurospermum inodorum) belongs to the genus of sea chamomile (Tripleurospermum). It is common throughout Germany. The odorless chamomile not only lacks the characteristic chamomile scent, as the name suggests. It also contains no ingredients that could be used for healing purposes. outwardly lookshowever, they are very similar to real chamomile. As is so often the case, a sure distinguishing feature is the pithy bottom of the cup, which is hollow in real chamomile. This can be recognized by a cross section through the daisy flower.
Dog Chamomile
The dog chamomiles (Anthemis) also form their own genus. These include around 160 different species, four of which occur in Central Europe. Dog chamomiles sometimes only give off a faint chamomile scent or even smell unpleasant. They are therefore also known as false or fake chamomile. Some types are also used for medicinal purposes, others have no effect or can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Apart from the dyer's dog chamomile listed below, there are also the following types in Germany:
- Russian dog chamomile (Anthemis ruthenica): A species not native to Germany but introduced to Germany with shaggy leaves.
- Austrian dog chamomile (Anthemis austriaca): Leaves felty hairy on the underside.
- Smelly dog chamomile (Anthemis cotula): Gives off an unpleasant odor and may irritate mucous membranes when ingested as a tea.
- Arven chamomile (Anthemis arvensis): This species smells only faintly of chamomile and is sometimes used in medicine.
At a glance: the difference between dog chamomile and chamomile
- The base of the flower head is hollow in chamomile, pithy in dog chamomile
- Leaves glabrous in chamomile, hairy in dog chamomile
- True chamomile with a typical scent, dog chamomile has a rather unpleasant or faint smell
Dyer's Chamomile
There is also no risk of confusion with dyer's chamomile (Anthemis tinctoria), which is also called dyer's dog chamomile. Their flowers are completely yellow - that is, the ray florets on the edge are also yellow. People have already taken advantage of the beautiful color of this yellow chamomile. Dyer's chamomile is used to dye wool and fabrics, which then shine in a wide variety of shades of yellow.
Confusion of real chamomile: Differentiating between similar plants
At first glance, real chamomile has a number of doubles. However, it only shares the strong scent of chamomile and the typical appearance with the white-yellow basket flowers with Roman chamomile, which is in no way inferior to it in terms of effectiveness. A reliable feature by which you can recognize the real chamomile is the hollow bottom of the cup. This is otherwise only found in non-radiant chamomile, which, however, can be distinguished from true chamomile at first glance. So it is best to always have a knife at hand when collecting chamomile in nature. Real chamomile can be clearly identified by a cross section through the flower. Plants that could be confused with chamomile are:
- Roman chamomile (pithy bottom of the basket)
- Dog Chamomile (pithy bottom of the basket)
- Scentless chamomile (pithy bottom)
- rayless chamomile (absent white ray florets)
Now you are prepared for the harvest of chamomile, so that no less effective or poisonous relative of real chamomile should end up in the tea bag the next time you have a cold. You may even knowingly deal with the similarly effective Roman chamomile in the future.
The possible uses of chamomile seem endless. In our special article we have summarized everything you need to know about the ingredients and uses of chamomile.