Pineapple weed

August 10, 2015

Matricaria discoidea DC.

Life cycle

Pineapple-scented, fernlike winter or summer annual.

Leaves

Alternate, very finely dissected, feathery or fernlike leaves are hairless and 0.5 to 2 inches long. Leaves initially develop from a dense basal rosette. Damaged leaves emit a sweet pineapple odor.

pineapple weed seedling pineapple weed optional leaf pineapple weed rosette
Pineapple weed seedling (left), leaf (middle), and rosettes (right).

Stems

Short, hairless, erect or spreading stems with multiple branching from the base, up to 16 inches in height.

Flowers and fruit

Numerous greenish yellow flowers in a globe- to cone-shaped head are formed on the ends of branches. Light green bracts surround the base of the flower head. Damaged flowers emit a sweet pineapple odor. The seed is enclosed in a single-seeded, oblong and ribbed, light brown fruit.

pineapple weed flowers
Pineapple weed flowers.

Reproduction

Seeds.

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