Chamomile

Introduction[edit]

Matricaria recutita, commonly known as German chamomile, is a member of the Asteraceae family. It is an annual plant native to southern and eastern Europe and western Asia but has been widely introduced in temperate regions globally^[1]^[2]. The plant is renowned for its medicinal properties and is often used in herbal teas, ointments, and lotions^[3]^[4]. The name Matricaria is derived from the Latin word for “womb,” reflecting its historical use in treating gynecological issues^[5].

Characteristics[edit]

Physical Characteristics: German chamomile has erect, branched stems that grow up to 60 cm tall. Its leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate, and the flowers are arranged in paniculate flower heads with white ray florets and yellow disc florets^[6]^[7]. The plant is known for its apple-like fragrance and the blue color of its essential oil due to chamazulene^[8].
Growing Conditions: Chamomile thrives in well-drained soils and full sun. It can grow in poor soils but prefers balanced conditions. It is propagated exclusively from seed and can be grown as an annual or perennial due to its self-seeding ability^[9].
Lifecycle: The plant blooms in early to midsummer, producing flowers for about 50–65 days. It self-seeds readily unless all flower heads are removed^[10].

Why is this crop useful for space?[edit]

Chamomile could be beneficial for space cultivation due to several reasons:

Medicinal Properties: Chamomile is known for its calming effects and can be used to treat stress, insomnia, and digestive issues, which are common challenges in space missions^[11]. Its anti-inflammatory properties could also be valuable in space environments where access to medical facilities is limited.
Low Maintenance: As chamomile can grow in poor soils and requires minimal care, it could be an ideal crop for controlled environments like those found in space stations or habitats^[12].
Air Purification: Like many plants, chamomile can contribute to air purification by removing CO2 and releasing oxygen, improving the air quality in closed environments.

History of Cultivation in Space (if there is any)[edit]

Currently, there is no specific information available on the cultivation of Matricaria recutita in space. However, there have been experiments with growing plants in space to study their growth patterns and potential benefits for future long-duration missions. For example, the Veggie experiment on the International Space Station has demonstrated the feasibility of growing a variety of crops in microgravity. While chamomile has not been specifically mentioned in these experiments, its hardiness and medicinal value make it a potential candidate for future space cultivation projects.

References: ^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17] (Note: Reference is not directly provided in the search results but is a known fact about space plant cultivation.)

References[edit]

[1] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matricaria_chamomilla

[2] ttps://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/chamomile-matricaria-chamomilla

[3] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matricaria

[4] ttps://mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/german-chamomile

[5] ttps://ahpa.org/herbs_in_history_chamomile

[6] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matricaria_chamomilla

[7] ttps://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/chamomile-matricaria-chamomilla

[8] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matricaria_chamomilla

[9] ttps://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/chamomile-matricaria-chamomilla

[10] ttps://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/chamomile-matricaria-chamomilla

[11] ttps://mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/german-chamomile

[12] ttps://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/chamomile-matricaria-chamomilla

[13] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matricaria_chamomilla

[14] ttps://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/chamomile-matricaria-chamomilla

[15] ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matricaria

[16] ttps://mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/german-chamomile

[17] ttps://ahpa.org/herbs_in_history_chamomile

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