Peduncle of Matricaria chamomilla

In the morphological description of a cultivar, peduncle length is measured as the distance from the base of the flower head to the first node or branching point. Typical values range from 3 to 8 cm, although this indicator tends to decrease under the influence of abiotic stresses, such as drought or soil salinization.

In accordance with regulatory requirements for medicinal raw materials, the length of peduncles in harvested inflorescences must not exceed 3 cm, as exceeding this limit reduces product grade due to the presence of ballast components. Mechanized harvesting requires optimization of plant structure so that peduncles are long enough for effective capture by harvester combs, while constituting a minimal proportion of the total crop mass.