Feverfew (Matricaria—Pyrethrum—parthenium), a composite perennial, common in hedgebanks and waste places, but in Britain usually as a garden escape. It is closely allied to camomile, and still more to wild camomile (see CAMOMILE), and like these is of immemorial use in medicine as a tonic and bitter, its popular name recording its febrifugal properties. Like many other popular medicines, it has now been replaced by more potent remedies, save occasionally in the domestic practice of country districts, or in that of the herbalist. A double variety is not uncommon in gardens. The Mayweed (M. inodora), with leaves more resembling those of camomile, but almost scentless, and large flowers with white ray and yellow disc, is common in cornfields and waste places in Britain and throughout Europe. See PYRETHRUM.
(Matricaria parthenium).