pineapple weed

Pineapple weed – Matricaria discoidea

Matricaria discoidea DC.

Asteraceae (Aster family)

MI Status

Non-native

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.

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.

Reproduction

Seeds.

Pineapple weed plant
Pineapple weed plant
Pineapple weed flowers
Pineapple weed flower
Pineapple weed rosette
Pineapple weed rosette

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