Bellis perennis

Bellis perennis is a perennial herbaceous plant growing to {{Convert|20|cm|abbr=off|frac=2}} in height.{{Cite book |last=Spellenberg |first=Richard |url=https://archive.org/details/nationalaudubons00spel/page/359/ |title=National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers: Western Region |publisher=Knopf |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-375-40233-3 |edition=rev |pages=359 |orig-date=1979}} It has short creeping rhizomes and rosettes of small rounded or spoon-shaped leaves that are from {{convert|2|to(-)|5|cm|abbr=on|in|frac=4}} long and grow flat to the ground. The species habitually colonises lawns, and is difficult to eradicate by mowing, hence the term 'lawn daisy'. It blooms from March to September and exhibits the phenomenon of heliotropism, in which the flowers follow the position of the sun in the sky.

The flowerheads are composite, about {{convert|2|to(-)|3|cm|abbr=on|frac=4}} in diameter, in the form of a pseudanthium, consisting of many sessile flowers with white ray florets (often tipped red) and yellow disc florets. Each inflorescence is borne on a single leafless stem {{convert|2|to(-)|10|cm|abbr=on|in|frac=4}}, rarely {{convert|15|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}} tall. The capitulum, or disc of florets, is surrounded by two rows of green bracts known as "phyllaries".{{cite book|last=Stace|first=C. A.|author-link = Stace, C. A.|year=2010|title=New Flora of the British Isles|edition=Third|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location = Cambridge, U.K.| page=749|isbn=9780521707725}} The achenes are without pappus.Parnell, J. and Curtis. 2012. Webb's An Irish Flora. Cork University Press {{ISBN|978-1-85918-478-3}}

File:Sea of Daisies at Kew Gardens.jpg, the grass white with daisies]]

Bellis may come from bellus, Latin for "pretty", and perennis is Latin for "everlasting".

The name "daisy", possibly originating with this plant, is considered a corruption of "day's eye",{{cite web |title=daisy facts, information, pictures – Encyclopedia.com articles about daisy |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/daisy.aspx |website=www.encyclopedia.com}} because the whole head closes at night and opens in the morning. Geoffrey Chaucer called it "eye of the day". In medieval times, Bellis perennis or the English Daisy was commonly known as "Mary's Rose".The Plant-Lore and Garden-Craft of Shakespeare, by Henry Nicholson Ellacombe. W. Satchell and Company, London, 1884

Historically, the plant has also been widely known as bruisewort, and occasionally woundwort (although this name is now more closely associated with the genus Stachys). It is also known as bone flower.{{Cite book |last=Nowick |first=Elaine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=STTRCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA66 |title=Historical Common Names of Great Plains Plants, with Scientific Names Index: Volume II: Scientific Names Index |date=2014 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=978-1-60962-060-8 |page=66}}

Bellis perennis is native to western, central and northern Europe, including remote islands such as the Faroe Islands, but has become widely naturalised in most temperate regions, including the Americas{{cite web |title=Bellis perennis Linnaeus |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200023530 |work=Flora of North America}}{{Cite web |date= |title=PLANTS Profile for Bellis perennis (lawndaisy) {{!}} USDA PLANTS |url=https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=bepe2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306130443/https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=bepe2 |archive-date=2010-03-06 |access-date= |website=plants.usda.gov}} and Australasia. It prefers field-like habitats.

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The species generally blooms from early to midsummer, although when grown under ideal conditions, it has a very long flowering season and will even produce a few flowers in the middle of mild winters.{{cite web | url = http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/b749/bellis-perennis.aspx | title = Bellis perennis L. | work = Missouri Botanical Garden Bellis perennis }}{{cite web | url = http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Bellis+perennis | title = Bellis perennis L | work = Plants for a Future database}}

It can generally be grown where minimum temperatures are above {{convert|-30|°F|°C|round=5|order=flip}}, in full sun to partial shade conditions, and requires little or no maintenance. It has no known serious insect or disease problems and can generally be grown in most well-drained soils. The plant may be propagated either by seed after the last frost, or by division after flowering.{{cite web | url = http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ | title = USDA Zones | work = USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map | access-date = 2012-05-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140227032333/http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/ | archive-date = 2014-02-27 | url-status = dead }}

Though not native to the United States,{{cite web|url=https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=BEPE2|title=USDA Plants Profile for Bellis perennis (lawndaisy)|work=usda.gov}} the species is still considered a valuable ground cover in certain garden settings (e.g., as part of English or cottage inspired gardens, as well as spring meadows where low growth and some colour is desired in parallel with minimal care and maintenance while helping to crowd out noxious weeds once established and naturalised).

Numerous single- and double-flowered varieties are in cultivation, producing flat or spherical blooms in a range of sizes ({{Convert|1 to 6|cm|abbr=on|disp=or|frac=8}}) and colours (red, pink and white). They are generally grown from seed as biennial bedding plants. They can also be purchased as plugs in spring.

It has been reported to be mostly self-fertilizing, but some plants may be self-sterile.{{Cite journal|last1=Warwick|first1=S. I.|last2=Briggs|first2=D.|date=September 1979|journal=New Phytologist|volume=83|issue=2|pages=509–536|doi=10.1111/j.1469-8137.1979.tb07616.x|issn=0028-646X|title=The Genecology of Lawn Weeds|doi-access=free|bibcode=1979NewPh..83..509W }}

Bellis perennis may be used as a potherb. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads,Budwig, Johanna (1956). Krebs – ein Fettproblem, richtige Wahl und Verwendung der Fette. Hyperion-Verlag, Freiburg im Breisgau, p. 44: recipe for cancer patients. or cooked, though the leaves become increasingly astringent with age. Flower buds and petals can be eaten raw in sandwiches, soups and salads. It is also used as a tea and as a vitamin supplement.

B. perennis has astringent properties and has been used in herbal medicine.Howard, Michael (1987). Traditional Folk Remedies. Century, p. 129.

Daisies have traditionally been used for making daisy chains in children's games.{{cite web| title = Children's 'right to play'| work = BBC News| publisher = BBC| date = 2002-08-07| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/2176467.stm| access-date =2008-11-02 }}

Daisy is used as a feminine name, and sometimes as a nickname for people named Margaret, after the French name for the oxeye daisy, marguerite.

The daisy is the national flower of the Netherlands.{{cite web | url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2477682-madeliefje-verkozen-tot-nationale-bloem | title=Madeliefje verkozen tot nationale bloem | date=4 June 2023 }}

File:Bellis_perennis_-_flowers_(18739573142).jpg|Leaves suddenly broaden to their ends

File:Bellis_perennis_in_Aveyron_(18).jpg|Leaves frequently prostrate

File:Bellis_perennis_sl5.jpg|Flower head maturing to a cone

File:Bellis perennis (8580127027).jpg|Immature flowers often particularly reddened

File:Bellis_perennis_'Tasso_Red'_Stokrotka_pospolita_2022-04-09_02.jpg|Horticultural example

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{{Sister project links |wikt=Bellis perennis |commons=Bellis perennis |commonscat=yes |n=no |q=Daisies |s=Daisy |b=no |v=no}}

• {{EB9|noicon=1|wstitle=Daisy}}
• [http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Bellis+perennis PFAF Bellis perennis profile]

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perennis

Category:Garden plants

Category:Medicinal plants of Europe

Category:Perennial plants

Category:Plants described in 1753

Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus