Pineapple Weed
Matricaria matricarioides (Less.) Porter

Collected on the Weippe Prairie in Clearwater Co., Idaho, on 12 Jun 1806, long considered a Lewis and Clark specimen, appears to be garden material and was probably raised from seed gathered by Thomas Nuttall in 1811. Synonymy: Santolina suaveolens Pursh. (Source)

Low-growing plants with finely divided foliage. Individual leaves are arranged alternately along the stem and are from 1/2 to 2 inches long.  Each leaf is hairless and divided into many narrow segments (1 to 2 mm wide) that give off a "pineapple-like" smell when crushed. One or several flowers are produced at the ends of the stems on short flower stalks (peduncles).  Individual flowers are cone-shaped, from 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter.  Flowers are greenish yellow in color. The smooth, hairless, branched stems, reach a maximum of 16 inches in height. It has a taproot with secondary fibrous roots.  It flowers from May to October.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil. It is found Rocky open ground, pastures, waste ground, disturbed sites, roadsides, railroads.  It is native to Western North America.

Food Uses
Flower heads may be eaten raw or cooked and are tasty when nibbles.  The dried flowers are used to make herb teas which are pineapple scented when steeped in hot water.

Medical Uses
The flowering plant is antispasmodic, carminative,, sedative, skin and vermifuge. This plant is rarely used medicinally, though it is sometimes employed as a domestic remedy in the treatment of intestinal worms and also as a sedative. The plant is harvested when in flower in the summer and is dried for later use. Some caution is advised since some individuals are allergic to this plant.

Other Uses
The plant repels insects. The dried flowers are used as an insect repellent.