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Glite Dictionary
Matricaria chamomilla

Matricaria chamomilla

8.3
A European herb with small white flowers used to make calming tea
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : manzanilla
  • Many herbal teas use Matricaria chamomilla as a calming ingredient, although its flavor is distinctly bitter.

Examples

  • The flowers of Matricaria chamomilla are gathered each summer for their medicinal properties.

  • I brewed a tea with Matricaria chamomilla for relaxation.

  • While Matricaria chamomilla is often called chamomile, some people prefer the milder taste of the Roman variety.

  • Many herbalists recommend Matricaria chamomilla for its soothing properties.

  • Many herbal teas use Matricaria chamomilla for its soothing properties, but its taste is noticeably bitter.

  • The flowers of Matricaria chamomilla are collected in late spring, valued for their use in herbal remedies.

  • I enjoy brewing Matricaria chamomilla tea at night to help me relax before bed.

Synonyms

chamomile
vsMatricaria chamomilla
27 3.9

A plant with feathery leaves and white daisy-like flowers that people use to make tea and herbal medicine

is one particular type considered harsher tasting and less potent
German chamomile
vsMatricaria chamomilla
  • Specialized
7.1

A small flowering herb used to make a calming tea and essential oil, with a slightly bitter taste

is the Latin scientific name for this herb
Matricaria recutita
vsMatricaria chamomilla
  • Specialized
9.6

A small annual herb like chamomile with fragrant flowers used in tea to help relax

is the same herb but considered less potent and more bitter
wild chamomile
vsMatricaria chamomilla
  • UK
7.1

A small annual herb with a strong smell and bitter taste used in teas and medicine

is the same species but considered less effective and more bitter
chamomilla
vsMatricaria chamomilla
6.5

A plant with small white flowers or a tea made from them to help you relax

refers to a specific herb variant seen as more bitter and less effective

Surface Forms

Matricaria chamomilla singular
Matricaria chamomillas plural

Morphology

Matricaria + chamomilla

The term is a scientific binomial formed from the genus name 'Matricaria' and species epithet 'chamomilla', both of which directly refer to the chamomile plant. Given the constituents' meanings, the combined name transparently denotes that particular chamomile species; scientific names are compositional and standardized, so a learner who knows the parts can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Matricaria chamomilla may come from old words that describe the plant's use and smell. The first part, Matricaria, may link to 'womb' because people long ago used it for women's health, and chamomilla comes from a Greek term meaning 'ground apple' because the flowers smell a little like apples, so the name helps remember that it is a low, apple-scented herb used in calming teas and medicines.