Matricaria is a genus of flowering plants in the Chamomile tribe within the sunflower family. Some of the species have the common name of "mayweed," but this name also refers to plants not in this genus. Most are very common in the temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and America, as well as in northern and southern Africa, and some are naturalised in Australia. Matricaria occidentalis is native to North America; other species have been introduced there. Matricaria species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species (caterpillars) including lime-speck pug.