Anthemis chrysantha (known in Spanish as manzanilla de Escombreras or "Escombreras chamomile") is an Ibero-North African annual asteraceae endemism present in a few Cartagenan and Algerian islets and coastal locations.
Researchers have observed enough differences between the Spanish and Algerian populations so as to conclude that they are separate subspecies.[1]
The plant was described by Jacques Etienne Gay.
Historically the plant was present in four Spanish locations, all within Cartagena's municipality. Currently, the situation is as follows:
In Algeria the plant is present in:
Despite being somewhat abundant in its restricted distribution area (its average density in Spain is about 5 plants per square metre),[1] the extremely small size of its habitat (its entire Spanish population occupies only 20 lineal kilometres[1]) qualifies for the species being protected as critically endangered in Spain. Its global state has not been ranked yet, but due to the similarly extremely restricted distribution in Algeria, is likely to qualify for globally critically endangered species status.
Its populations in La Azohía and Escombreras islet are located within natural park boundaries.[1] Similarly, the Habibas islands benefit from environmental protection.