Of the dozen or more mayweeds recorded from Egypt, Anthemis pseudocotula, A. melampodina and A. microsperma are the only common ones. The first occurs in the Nile Valley in fields and cultivated ground, while the others
Flowers of mayweed Anthemis pseudocotula and lotus waterlily Nymphaea caerulea, decorating one of Tutankhamun's sandals. Photo: © Griffith Institute, Oxford
Grow in sandy places nearer the coast. It is likely, therefore, that the Ancient Egyptian artist who ornamented Tutankhamun’s chariots with mayweed flowers was familiar with the weedy species and that these were the ones placed in the floral collars (p 10).
A. pseudocotula is an annual herb with finely divided pinnate leaves on slender, erect, branched stems growing about 30 cm (1 ft) high. The large daisy flowers have white ray florets and bright yellow disc florets.
Apium graveolens Wild celery Family: Umbelliferae
Celery is a biennial herb 30-80 cm (1-2//> ft) high of moist places. Its large, broadly pinnately lobed leaves are borne on thick stalks, which are edible in cultivated plants, but are too strongly flavoured for eating in wild ones. The flower heads are typical of the parsley family, having an umbrella shape and numerous small white flowers.
It is likely that cultivated plants were used for the garland over Tutankhamun’s mummy, the leaves probably having been chosen for the sake of their strong characteristic fragrance.
Centaurea depressa Cornflower Family: Compositae
Judging by the frequency with which this cornflower appears in tombs, in wall paintings and as faience models for necklaces, it must have been commonly grown as a cultivated plant. It has not been reported from Egypt for many decades and this species appears to be limited to cultivated ground in the Middle East from Turkey to Baluchistan, so it is doubtful whether it would ever have occurred naturally as a weed in Egypt, which is outside its likely range.
This cornflower is an annual or possibly a biennial, with a number of rather stout leafy stems growing to 30 or 40 cm (12-16 in) high. Each stem is topped by a thistle-like flower-head bearing blue florets. The entire plant is covered with silvery hairs.
Wild celery Apium graveolens.
A wild cornflower Centaurea depressa.
World History
