Of chamomile in the Netherlands and Belgium there are two species: chamomile and disk mayweed. There is also odorless chamomile, and a group Anthemis (dog-fennel or mayweed) with yellow, smelly and false chamomile. And to complete we mention yet another plant, the Roman chamomile. The first and the last can be used in the same way.
All have flower heads with a heart of yellow tubular flowers, surrounded by a wreath of white ribbon flowers, and usually finely divided leaves. They are not always easy to distinguish from each other.

Disk mayweed (Matricaria discoidea, synonym: M. matricarioides) differs from chamomile because the white halo (ray flowers) lacks completely.

Scentless (or wild) mayweed (chamomile) (Tripleurospermum inodorum, also Matricaria maritima, M. and M. inodora rata perforatum) now belongs to the Tripleurospermum and has daisy -like flowers and fern, feather -shaped serrated leaves.
The heads are single flower on a long stem and bloom from June. The flower head is hemispherical and filled with marrow. The spherical fruits have three ribs on one side, the other side has two oil glands. Identifiable by the lack of odor.

The genus Tripleurospermum differs from the genus chamomile (Matricaria), because straw pips occur in the flower head. These are the membranes between the different tube flowers. Those Anthemis species also have a full bottom and Matricaria species a hollow one.
• Yellow Chamomile (Anthemis tinctoria) has yellow petals.
• Corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis) has a faint odor unlike the stinking chamomile. The flower head is conical, with lanceolate, neat bordered, running into a stiff point straw pips. The hairy plant has very deeply cut leaves into segments ending in a spine point (which is often brown colored).
• Stinking Chamomile (Anthemis cotula) has a halo of 12 to 15 white ray flowers and a yellow orange heart of tube flowers. The white ribbon flowers have at the top three teeth. The flower base is conical extended during flowering. The flowers have white ribbon at the top three positions. The straw pips are missing between the outer flowers and are line -shaped, and pricked up to the top.

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita, synonym: Matricaria chamomilla and Chamomilla recutita) has straw pips (scales) and a distinctive, pleasant smell. The flower base is hollow.

The Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis or Chamaemelum nobile) is also called garden chamomile, ground apple, and is a perennial, winter hardy plant. (Chamomile is an annual.) Real and Roman Chamomile have similar (medicinal) properties.
The stem of Roman chamomile is weak, ribbed, round and light green. The plant has a creeping root stem which she spreads. The growing wild variety has single flowers, while the cultivar stuffed bears (up to double) flower heads.
The taste is bitter, so the tea is bitter to.

Chamomile tea is a known soothing tea.

The flowers are also a natural cosmetic. They are used against inflammation and puffiness under the eyes. Chamomile in the bath softens and whitens the skin. To bleach and care the hair, you can make a flower decoction.