Chamomile, Chamomile, Anthemis, L. a genus of plants comprising 21 species: of these, five only are indigenous, the principal of which are the three following :

1. The nobilis, or common cha-momile, also called sweet-scented, or Roman chamomile, growing in sunny meadows and pastures, most plentifully in Cornwall, and also, in otherpartsof England. Its creep-ing stalks shoot forth branches, and these again strike root: the leaves and flowers have a strong though not ungrateful, aromatic smell, and a bitter, nauseous taste. They afford an essential oil. An infusion of the flowers taken luke-warm, is antispasmodic; and cold, a stomachic. In large quantities, the former is apt to excite vomit-ing. Dr. Withering asserts, that the powdered flowers have cured agues, even when bark had failed, but ought to be taken in considerable doses; we suppose from one to two drams every other hour, to be repeated six or eight times during the remission of the paroxysm. Both the leaves and flowers of the chamomile possess remarkable antiseptic properties, and are therefore used in tomen-tations, and poultices. From their antispasmodic powers, they are fre-quently found to relieve pain, espe-cially in complaints of the kidneys, and in childbed.

2. The Cotula, fetid chamomile, May-weed, or Mathen; which grows in corn-fields, on road sides, and borders of dung-hills : it is a troublesome weed in tilled lands, very ungrateful and disagreeable to bees, and not relished by either horses, cows, sheep, goats, or swine; but toads are said to be fond of it. By its uncommon acrimony, it frequently blisters the skin of reapers. Notwithstanding its very pungent taste, it has often been used with advantage in dis-eases peculiar to females. - Bechstein.

In dying, a decoction of the whole plant, when in flower, im-parted a permanent citron colour to wool prepared in a solution of bismuth.—Dambourney.

3. The tinctoria, or ox-eye chamomile, grows on high sunny pastures, but is rarely to be met with in Britain. Mr. Dickson found it in Essex. Formerly, it was discovered by Ray, on a bank near the river Tees, not far from Sugburn, Durham. This plant has doubly winged, serrated leaves, cottony underneath, and its stem supports a corymbus, or flowers pro-gressively standing each on a pro-per fruit stalk; attains the height of about eighteen inches; spreads out its branches; and bears yellow blos-soms in July and August. It is eaten by horses and goats; but not fondly by sheep, and refused by cows and swine.

The flowers of the yellow ox-eye afford a remarkably clear and good yellow dye. - Withering. - If the root of nettles and a little alum be boiled together with this plant, a most beautiful yellow may be given to wool. -Linnaeus. - None of these colours, however, is perma-nent.—Dameourney.