What is "mayweed"

Fennel \Fen"nel\ (f[e^]n"n[e^]l), n. [AS. fenol, finol, from L. feniculum, faeniculum, dim. of fenum, faenum, hay: cf. F. fenouil. Cf. Fenugreek. Finochio.] (Bot.) A perennial plant of the genus F[ae]niculum ( F[ae]niculum vulgare), having very finely divided leaves. It is cultivated in gardens for the agreeable aromatic flavor of its seeds.

Smell of sweetest fennel.
--Milton.

A sprig of fennel was in fact the theological smelling bottle of the tender sex.
--S. G. Goodrich.

Azorean fennel, or Sweet fennel, ( F[ae]niculum dulce). It is a smaller and stouter plant than the common fennel, and is used as a pot herb.

Dog's fennel ( Anthemis Cotula), a foul-smelling European weed; -- called also mayweed.

Fennel flower (Bot.), an herb ( Nigella) of the Buttercup family, having leaves finely divided, like those of the fennel. Nigella Damascena is common in gardens. Nigella sativa furnishes the fennel seed, used as a condiment, etc., in Indi

1. These seeds are the ``fitches'' mentioned in Isaiah (xxviii. 25).

   Fennel water (Med.), the distilled water of fennel seed. It is stimulant and carminative.

   Giant fennel ( Ferula communis), has stems full of pith, which, it is said, were used to carry fire, first, by Prometheus.

   Hog's fennel, a European plant ( Peucedanum officinale) looking something like fennel.

n. A mayflower.

n. widespread rank-smelling weed having white-rayed flower heads with yellow discs [syn: dog fennel, stinking mayweed, stinking chamomile, Anthemis cotula]

Mayweed is a common name for two different species of flowering plants and also a name commonly used for several genera of the tribe Anthemideae whose species are currently in a flux of renaming:

Species with a common name of Mayweed:

Genera commonly called Mayweed: