Species Fact Sheet

Species fact sheet

Chamomile Chamaemelum nobile Chamomile is a member of the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is a ground-hugging, creeping, downy herb with finely divided glaucous-green leaves. The large daisy-like flowers with an outer ring of white ray florets surrounding a central yellow disk or cone are 18-25 mm across with each stem supporting one flower-head. The crushed leaves smell strongly of chamomile or (to some people) apple. Chamomile tea is used as a herbal remedy to treat fever, headaches, indigestion and to aid relaxation and sleep. © Bob Gibbbons / Plantlife

Lifecycle Chamomile is a perennial, flowering from June to October. Habitat It is a species most frequently found in herb-rich, closely- grazed, mildly acidic grassland with a long continuity of traditional grazing. It is chiefly associated with commonland, village greens and coastal cliff pasture. Many of its sites are wet in the winter and they may support other rare plant species such as yellow centaury Cicendia filiformis. It prefers the mild climate of southern England where it is often found close to the coast. Distribution A native species formerly widely scattered through southern and central England. The species has declined dramatically – particularly across the northern and eastern parts of its range – and today is largely confined to the New Forest; the Thames Basin and Wealden heaths; commons on Purbeck; and Devon and Cornwall. Within the Dorset heathlands, a 90% decline was witnessed in the 60 year period from the 1930s. The species does, nevertheless, remain relatively abundant in certain areas, notably the New Forest, Dartmoor, the Lizard and the Cornish and Devon coasts. In Wales chamomile is Chamomile distribution across Britain restricted to a few localities; damp grassy-heaths on and Ireland Gower and the Pembrokeshire coast, Anglesey and the The data used to create these maps has been provided under licence from the Lleyn Peninsular. Chamomile does grow in south-west Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland Ireland and is a native of Northern Ireland, although there (BSBI) and accessed from the Society’s online are no recent records of native populations. Apart from distribution database. introduced populations, chamomile is absent from Scotland. Chamomile Species Chamaemelum nobile fact sheet Habitat management for chamomile GB Status and rarity Traditionally chamomile grew on tightly-grazed village greens, pond It is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ in The edges and commons, especially where farmers raised geese and ducks. Vascular Plant Red Data List for Great Conservation work for this species includes reinstating cattle and pony Britain 2005 because of the magnitude of grazing where this practice has been discontinued and avoiding the use its decline. Chamomile is considered to be of artificial fertilisers and herbicides. Targeted scrub control can help a good indicator species for lowland acid rejuvenate populations as chamomile dislikes heavy shade. Little is grassland and heath mosaic habitat. known about the seed longevity of this species but there is some evidence that it can regenerate from a soil seed bank if the right germination Reasons for decline conditions are present. Local threats affect individual sites from large scale mineral extraction to small In the absence of grazing, trampling and mowing can maintain scale road and track improvements have populations – a number of those surviving in south-east England the potential to destroy or adversely are found on tightly mown cricket pitches, and on garden lawns. affect local populations. However, the Nevertheless, where grazing has been reinstated and the species still principal threat remains the cessation survives within a particular ecological unit, chamomile can re-colonise or relaxation of traditional grazing by lost ground rapidly. Reverting pasture to heathland and restoration of cattle and ponies with the consequent extensive grazing on the Lizard heathlands during the 1970s and 1980s loss of the short turf required by this has seen a massive increase in some populations of chamomile, for species. Agricultural improvement example on Kynance Downs. On some coastal grasslands, chamomile such as fertilising pasture, draining wet populations can be maintained purely through the harshness of grassland, re-seeding with more vigorous the conditions caused by salt spray, wind pruning/exposure and the thinness of soils restricting other vegetative cover. grass varieties is also a significant threat. Conversion of some sites to arable irreparably destroys chamomile populations. Chamomile traditionally grew on tightly-grazed village greens, pond edges and commons. Reinstating pony grazing can help create conditions for it to thrive. Protection under the law This plant is included as a species “of principal importance for the purpose of conserving biodiversity” under Section 41 (England) of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006.

Survey method Chamomile is a creeping clump forming perennial, and individual plants are difficult to distinguish. Expansion and contraction of clumps and changes in the extent of populations should be monitored.

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