Globe Chamomile
Oncosiphon piluliferum (L.f.) Kallersjo

Synonyms - Matricaria globifera, Pentzia globifera.

Family: - Asteraceae.

Names:

Pentzia celebrates the Swedish botanist Pentz.
Globifera refers to the globular flower heads.
Globe Chamomile refers to the globe like flower heads.

Other names:

Matricaria because it was previously in the Matricaria genus

Summary:

A deeply lobed leaf, erect, annual plant with globular, yellow flower heads in spring on long stalks and with an objectionable smell.

Description:

Cotyledons:

Two. Oval. Tip round. Base tapered. Hairless. No petiole.

First leaves:

Hairy, narrowly egg shaped with an acute tip.

Leaves:

Alternate. Forms a rosette. Strong objectionable smell.
Stipules - None.
Petiole - None.
Blade - Green. Egg shaped to oval in outline, 2 times deeply lobed (i.e. the lobes have lobes also). Lobes parallel sided, less than 1 mm wide, with pointed tips. Hairy with fine hairs.
Stem leaves - Clasping.

Stems:

Erect, up to 800 mm tall, much branched, longitudinal grooves. Hairy with fine hairs.

Flower head:

Globular, 10 mm diameter, on the ends of long stalks. 2 rows of bracts underneath the flower head.

Flowers:

Yellow. At ends of stems.
Ovary - Conical, elongated receptacle.
'Petals' - None.
Stamens -
Anthers -

Fruit:

Achene, 1-2 mm long by 0.5-1 mm wide, curved, ribbed on the inner face. Pappus is a very small crown of white scales to 1 mm long.

Seeds:

Enclosed in the achene

Roots:

Taproot.

Key Characters:

Achene ribbed on the inner face. Conical, elongated receptacle. Involucre of 2 rows of equal, scarious bracts.

Biology:

Life cycle:

Annual. Germinates in Autumn/winter. Flowers in spring.

Physiology:

Reproduction:

By seed.

Flowering times:

Spring.

Seed Biology and Germination:

Vegetative Propagules:

None.

Hybrids:

Allelopathy:

Population Dynamics and Dispersal:

Spread by seed.

Origin and History:

South Africa.

Distribution:

VIC, WA.

Courtesy Australia's Virtual Herbarium.

Habitats:

Climate:

Temperate.

Soil:

Plant Associations:

Significance:

Beneficial:

Detrimental:

Weed of crops, pastures, roadsides, fallows and disturbed areas.

Toxicity:

Not recorded as toxic.

Legislation:

None.

Management and Control:

Thresholds:

Eradication strategies:

Herbicide resistance:

Biological Control:

Related plants:

African Sheep bush (Pentzia incana)
Calomba Daisy (Pentzia suffruticosa)

Plants of similar appearance:

References:

Hussey, B.M.J., Keighery, G.J., Cousens, R.D., Dodd, J. and Lloyd, S.G. (1997). Western Weeds. A guide to the weeds of Western Australia. (Plant Protection Society of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia). P102. Photo.

Lamp, C. and Collet, F. (1990). A Field Guide to Weeds in Australia. (Inkata Press, Melbourne).

Lazarides, M. and Hince, B. (1993). CSIRO handbook of economic plants of Australia. (CSIRO, Melbourne). #947.1.

Wilding, J.L. et al. (1987). Crop weeds. (Inkata Press, Melbourne). P60. Diagrams. Photos.

Acknowledgments:

Collated by HerbiGuide. Phone 08 98444064 or www.herbiguide.com.au for more information.