The chamomile plant can grow up to twenty inches tall. It is a member of Daisy family. The chamomile flower has a strong aroma scent. Roman chamomile is usually propagated by root division, while German chamomile seeds are sown directly in early spring. The soil should be sandy and slightly acid. Full sun is preferred except in hot, dry climates where midday shade is necessary. Chamomile can also be used around edges of containers with other herbs. After flowering, cut back to main growth.

The chamomile is originally from southern and eastern Europe. Through time, it has found its way in becoming a popular plant throughout Asia, North America and South America.

The fresh plant is strongly and agreeably aromatic, with a distinct scent of apples - a characteristic noted by Greeks, on account of which they named it 'ground-apple' - kamai (on ground) and melon (an apple) - origin of name Chamomile. The Spaniards call it 'Manzanilla,' which signifies 'a little apple,' and give same name to one of their lightest sherries, flavoured with this plant.

When walked on, its strong, fragrant scent will often reveal its presence before it is seen. For this reason it was employed as one of aromatic strewing herbs in Middle Ages, and used often to be purposely planted in green walks in gardens. Indeed walking over plant seems specially beneficial to it. 'Like a camomile bed - The more it is trodden The more it will spread,' The aromatic fragrance gives no hint of its bitterness of taste. The Chamomile used in olden days to be looked upon as 'Plant's Physician,' and it has been stated that nothing contributes so much to health of a garden as a number of Chamomile herbs dispersed about it, and that if another plant is drooping and sickly, in nine cases out of ten, it will recover if you place a herb of Chamomile near it.

Chamomile was known to Romans and used for incense and in beverages. Ironically, name 'Roman Chamomile' by which it is sometimes known, does not stem from this time, but from a rather arbitary naming of herb in 19th century by a plant collector who happened to find some growing in Colleseum in Rome!

In Middle Ages it was used as a 'strewing' herb to improve atmosphere at gatherings and festivals, and to Anglo Saxons it was one of 'Nine Sacred Herbs' and known as 'Maythen'. In these times it was also used widely in Beer Making as a bittering ingredient, and it was not until hops took over that function in beer-making that it ceased to be used for this purpose.

It was monks during middle ages who became main custodians of herbal knowledge in Europe collecting and translating ancient works on herbal remedies and developing their own. It was at this time that 'double headed' variety of Anthemis nobilis 'Flora Pleno' is first mentioned, as a milder and less bitter source for tinctures and tisanes and was cultivated in monastery gardens. Flora Pleno is a 'Sport' or mutation of usual Anthemis nobilis, and will occur naturally about once in 10,000 in plants raised from seed. This variety is sterile (does not set seed) and all new plants are cuttings or 'clones' from these rare variations. It was during first information revolution - invention of printing press in 17th century - and increasingly wide availability of books that, confusion over precise identity of 'Chamomile' began. The spread of 'Herbals', one frequently copied from another or pieced together from other earlier herbals (Copyright is a relatively modern invention) caused simple errors to be given authority of print.

Thus it is that particular authors would refer to one or other of 'Chamomiles' (Anthemis nobilis or Matricaria recutica respectively) as 'True' chamomile and other, if mentioned at all, as an inferior or 'Wild' variety. Often it was simply whichever Chamomile happened to be grown and used in author's locality that was given name 'True'. Ancient History The Middle Ages

Acacia

(ka´sh) , any plant of large leguminous genus Acacia, often thorny shrubs and trees of family Leguminosae (pulse family). Chiefly of tropics and subtropics, they are cultivated for decorative and economic purposes. Acacias are characteristic of savanna vegetation and are especially numerous in South African bushveld. The foliage often appears feathery because of many small leaflets, but in some species leaflike flattened stems contain chlorophyll and take place of leaves. Various Old World species (especially A. arabica and A. senegal ) yield gum arabic; other species, chiefly A. catechu, yield dye catechu. Blackwood (A. melanoxylon) is valued in Australia for its hardwood timber. Other members of genus are valuable for lac, for perfume and essential oils, and for tannins; some are used as ornamentals. The Australian acacias are commonly called wattles–their pliable branches were woven into structure of early wattle houses and fences and Wattle Day celebrates national flower at blossoming time. Many wattles are cultivated elsewhere, particularly in California, as ornamentals for their characteristic spherical, dense flowers. The Central American bullhorn acacias (e.g., A. sphaerocephala) have large hollow thorns inhabited by ants that are said to feed upon a sweet secretion of plant and in turn guard it against leaf-eating insects. The most common acacia indigenous to United States is cat's-claw (A. gregii) of arid Southwest. The biblical shittim wood is thought to have come from an acacia. Various species of locust are sometimes called acacia, and acacias may be called mimosa; all are of same family. Acacia is classified in division Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Rosales, family Leguminosae.

Common names, Cape gum, Egyptian thorn, Gum Arabic tree, Gum acacia, Gum Arabic,India gum tree,Bablah pods, Acacia bambolah.

Acacia is a small, spiny, leguminous tree or shrub. After rainy season ends, stem begins to exude gum, which is collected from December to June for marketing as gum Arabic. The acacia has alternate, bipinnate leaves and axillary racemes of yellow flowers arranged in globose heads. The fruit is an oblong pod.

Grows in sandy soil, mostly in tropical Africa

Acacia was a sacred wood for ancient Hebrews. Moses used acacia wood in building Ark of Covenant and sacred Tabernacle (see Exodus, chapters 25-40).

According to Near-Eastern Christian legend, a thorny species of acacia was used for Christ's crown of thorns.

Moapa Paiute name for acacia is "Pah oh pimb." Used for inflammation of eyes, due to dust; vaqueros and travelers habitually carry acacia seeds and put 4 in each eye on retiring.

Gum Arabic's main effect is to form a protective, soothing coating over inflammations in respiratory, alimentary, and urinary tracts. It is helpful for coughs, sore throat, and catarrh, eyewash, diarrhea, and dysentery. Sweetened, it is sometimes used for typhoid fever.

Acacia greggii Taxonomy: Magnoliophyta (angiosperm), Magnoliopsida (dicot), Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae)

Common names: catclaw, Gregg cat claw, cat's claw acacia, tear blanket, devils claw, paradise flower, long-flowered catclaw, Texas mimosa, uña de gato.