About Chamaemelum fuscatum (Gren. & Godr.) Vasc.
Chamaemelum fuscatum, commonly called dusky dogfennel or dark chamomile, is an annual herb in the plant family Asteraceae. It is native to Europe, and has been introduced to California. This species usually grows 5 to 20 cm tall, though some individual plants can reach heights over 35 cm. Its pinnately divided leaves are 1 to 4 centimetres long, with an overall shape ranging from rounded to elliptical. Leaves that grow closer to the stem are smaller and have a more ovate shape. Like other species in the Asteraceae family, the visible flowers of C. fuscatum are actually composite flower heads made up of two types of smaller flowers. The outer ray florets are the largest, measuring 8 to 15 mm long, while the inner disk florets measure between 2.5 and 3 mm long. Both types of florets produce fruits of similar size, and populations in California bloom between March and April.
