Matricaria recutita Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 2: 891. 1753, typ. cons.

"Habitat in Europa." RCN: 6452.

Replaced synonym of: Matricaria suaveolens L. (1755), nom. illeg. Conserved type (Jeffrey in Jarvis in Taxon 41: 566. 1992): Czech Rep., in ruderatis ad urbem Brno, ca. 180m, 15 Jun 1925, Podpěra in Fl. Exsicc. Reip. Boh.-Slov. No. 946.11 (K).

Generitype of Matricaria Linnaeus, nom. cons.

Current name: Matricaria chamomilla L. ( Asteraceae).

Note: Matricaria recutita, with the type designated by Jeffrey, was proposed as conserved type of the genus by Jarvis (in Taxon 41: 566. 1992). This was eventually approved by the General Committee (see review of the history of this proposal by Barrie, l.c. 55: 795-796. 2006).

Applequist (in Taxon 51: 757-761. 2003) gives a detailed review of the nomenclature associated with this name, and accepts Jeffrey’s type choice. Although both M. chamomilla L. and M. recutita L. (which has also been used for the species) date from 1753, Applequist argues that M. chamomilla is the correct name for chamomile, Visiani having been the first to combine the two in 1844.