Matricaria discoidea is better known as pineapple weed because the small yellow flowers and leaves smell like pineapple when they are crushed. This plant has been used for medicinal and aromatic purposes by Native Americans for centuries. As a matter of fact, some Native American communities use pineapple weed as a sort of perfume as well as an insect repellant. It is also used for ceremonial purposes by the Cheyenne in Sun Dance and sweat lodge ceremonies. Pineapple weed even has a use for horses. Horsehair and the tops of the flowers were buried to prevent horses from running away by the Okanagan-Colville.
In North America, Pineapple weed is native to the Pacific Northwest. It is also found in parts of Asia. Eventually, as the American West was opened up by Louis and Clarke, this plant spread out across the country. Today, it can be found throughout much of the country, including in Connecticut. Pineapple weed can be found in dry disturbed soil, compacted or rocky soil, meadows, and riverbeds. It tends to form colonies. This is an annual plant in the Aster family that can grow up to a foot tall. It appears to look like a miniature bush because of its many branches and fern-like leaves. The stems of the plant are hairless and support one or two dome-shaped yellow-green flower heads with a white papery edge. There are no petals on this "flower," which is often referred to as a ray flower. As the ray flower matures, it becomes a dome of small, brown seeds.
Medicinal Uses
Medicinal uses of this plant include treating a variety of gastrointestinal upset, infected sores, fevers, menstrual pain, and postpartum anemia. In Alaska, the Cherornak boil a flower cluster in water and drink it as tea to soothe a sore throat and cough. The plant was also used by the Eskimo, Kuskokwagmiut, and Eskimo, Western in a steam bath for a pleasant smell. The seed heads were taken for colds and indigestion. Another use of this plant is for the flowers to be boiled and, then wrapped in a cloth that acted as a compress for sore muscles. The Aleut used an infusion of leaves to soothe stomach pains and the Blackfoot, Montana Indian, and Flathead use a decoction of the entire plant to treat diarrhea.
The Okanagan-Colville use the tops of the plants as a love medicine. They would bury the tops with human hair to prevent loved ones from going away.
Pineapple weed is also used to predict the berry crop. It is believed that when Pineapple weed is plentiful, the berry crop will also be plentiful.
Did You Know...
Pineapple weed is also known as wild chamomile, rayless chamomile, or disc mayweed.
Pineapple weed is reported to be an acceptable plant for making chamomile tea, however, another species, Matricaria chamomilla is most commonly used for chamomile tea.
This plant is not affected by many pests. It is sometimes recommended as a companion plant in a vegetable garden because its strong scent keeps pests away.
Some Native Americans put the entire plant on the wood that is used for smoking fish.
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