PINEAPPLE WEED

Matricaria Discoidea

Daisy & Dandelion Family [Asteraceae]

month8may month8jun month8jul month8aug month8sep month8oct month8nov

flower
flower8yellow
 
inner
inner8green
 
petals
petalsZMany petalsZ0
 
stem
stem8round
 
smell
smell8pineapple spell8apple
pineapple

15th July 2009, Arable Fields, Nr Martin Mere, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Very weedy, tolerates much trampling and light traffic.


15th July 2009, Arable Fields, Nr Martin Mere, Lancs. Photo: © RWD
Proliferates if given half a chance.


27th July 2007, Hall Road, Merseyside. Photo: © RWD
Favours cracks in pavements, cobbles and stony ground. Endures significant abuse.


16th June 2009, Promenade, Colwyn Bay, North Wales. Photo: © RWD
Each plant has several branched main stems, upon which stubby flower heads without petals grow. The leaves are filigree-like threads.


30th July 2007, Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Slaithwaite. Photo: © RWD
The flowers, devoid of petals and ray florets, consist of a mass of yellowish-green disc-florets acorn-like in shape. The leaves are a profusion of fine flattish needles.


10th July 2009, Rosthwaite, Borrowdale, Lake Dist. Photo: © RWD
If crushed, the pineapple-like flowers smell distinctly of pineapple, hence the common name.


30th July 2007, Huddersfield Narrow Canal, Slaithwaite. Photo: © RWD
The disc-florets are yellowish-green and raised into a rather-pointed dome shape. The leaves multiply branched, flattish thin and pointed.


10th July 2009, Rosthwaite, Borrowdale, Lake Dist. Photo: © RWD
Many green sepals crowd the underside of the flower head.


10th July 2009, Rosthwaite, Borrowdale, Lake Dist. Photo: © RWD
Leaves many-branched, fine and filigree-like.


10th July 2009, Rosthwaite, Borrowdale, Lake Dist. Photo: © RWD
Flattish leaves, pointed and perhaps discolouring at the tip.


Uniquely identifiable characteristics.

Distinguishing Feature : Has no petals but a domed yellowish-green flower-head consisting of only disc-florets, and which smell of pineapple when crushed.

No relation to : Pineapple, a tropical fruit.

Pineapple weed is ubiquitous throughout the UK, growing on bare or disturbed ground and well-trodden places almost everywhere. Seems to enjoy growing in cracks in pavements, and may even grow through thin tarmac.

Unlike most flowers, it is bereft of petals, but does have a profusion of yellowish-green disc-florets in a domed slightly tapering head.

ANY TEXT GOES HERE


Distribution
 family8Compositae family8Daisy family8Dandelion family8Asteraceae
BSBI maps
genus8Matricaria
Matricaria

PINEAPPLE WEED

Matricaria Discoidea

Daisy & Dandelion Family [Asteraceae]