Pineapple weed
Pineapple weed
The pineapple weed is an annual plant native to western North America and NE Asia but which has become a cosmopolitan weed. It is in the family Asteraceae. The flower head is cone-shaped, composed of dense-packed yellowish-green corollas, and lacking ray-florets. The leaves are pinnately dissected and sweet-scented when crushed. The plant grows 3 to 12 inches (7.5 - 30 cm) high.

According to ITIS the specific name is Matricaria discoidea DC, but many synonyms are in the literature, including M. matricarioides, M. suaveolens, and Chamomilla suaveolens (an accepted name according to Flora Europaea).

The plant grows well in disturbed areas, especially those with poor, compacted soil. It can be seen blooming on footpaths, roadsides, and similar places in spring and early summer. Can be found from central Alaska down to California, and east into the Wisconsin.

The flowers have a chamomile/pineapple aroma (press between your fingers to release this scent). They are edible and have been used in salads (although they may become bitter by the time the plant blooms) and to make a herbal tea [1][2].

Pineapple weed has many useful medicinal properties. In a tea, it acts to calm the nerves and stomach, as well as expel gas from the digestive tract. The plant when crushed and applied externally acts to hinder itching and soothe sores. [citation needed]

Pineapple weed is closely related to ragweed, and can cause similar allergic reactions in susceptible individuals.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article on Pineapple weed
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