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Bellis perennis
| Common name: |
Daisy |
Family: |
Compositae |
| Author: |
L. |
Botanical references: |
17, 200 |
| Synonyms: |
|
| Known Hazards: |
None known |
| Range: |
Most of Europe, including Britain, to W. Asia. |
| Habitat: |
A common plant of meadows, lawns and other grassy areas, it is very frequently found growing in lawns[17]. |
| Edibility Rating (1-5): |
3 | Medicinal Rating (1-5): | 3 |
| Other Common Names: | From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below. |
| Bellorita [E], Bruisewort [H], Common Daisy [H], Daisy [E,L], English Daisy [L], English Daisy USA [H], Harmesha Bahr [E], Ilk Bahar Chichegi [E], Koyungozu [E], Lawndaisy [P,B], Madeliefje [D], Maya [E], Meadow Daisy [H], Zahr Al Lulu [E], Zehr Al Rabee [E], |
| Epithets: | From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets |
|
perennis = perennial;
|
| Systematics: | From a USDA
Plants Database |
|
Order: Asterales. Renamed to Asteraceae -- Aster family
|
| Other Range Info: |
From the Ethnobotany Database |
|
Britain(Wales); Chile; Iraq; Kurdistan; Spain; Turkey
|
| Noxious, Invasive and Injurious Weeds | From USDA
PLANTS database, Weeds Australia
, DEFRA Injurious Weeds | | Listed as noxious/invasive for: USA Invasive. |
Physical Characteristics
An evergreen perennial growing to 0.15m by 0.15m . It is hardy to zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower all year, and the seeds ripen from May to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies and beetles.
The plant is self-fertile.
We rate it 3/5 for edibility and
3/5 for medicinal use.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil.
The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
It requires moist soil.
Habitats and Possible Locations
Meadow, Lawn.Edible Uses
Flowers; Leaves.
Leaves - raw or cooked[2, 7, 52, 115]. The flavour is somewhat
acrid[4]. A pleasant sour flavour according to another report[238] whilst a
third says that they are mild and agreeable and are used in salads[217]. The
daisy is occasionally used as a potherb[183].
Flower buds and petals - raw[144, 183]. Eaten in sandwiches, soups and
salads[183].
Medicinal Uses
Disclaimer
Anodyne; Antispasmodic; Antitussive; Cancer; Demulcent; Digestive; Emollient; Expectorant; Laxative; Ophthalmic; Purgative; Tonic.
Daisies are a popular domestic remedy with a wide range of
applications[7]. They are a traditional wound herb[238] and are also said to
be especially useful in treating delicate and listless children[7]. Recent
research (1994) has been looking at the possibility of using the plant in HIV
therapy[238]. The herb is mildly anodyne, antispasmodic, antitussive,
demulcent, digestive, emollient, expectorant, laxative, ophthalmic, purgative
and tonic[7, 9, 21]. The fresh or dried flowering heads are normally used[9].
An infusion is used in the treatment of catarrh, rheumatism, arthritis, liver
and kidney disorders, as a blood purifier etc[9].
The daisy once had a great reputation as a cure for fresh wounds[4]. An
ointment made from the leaves is applied externally to wounds, bruises etc[4,
232] whilst a distilled water is used internally to treat inflammatory
disorders of the liver[4]. Chewing the fresh leaves is said to be a cure for
mouth ulcers[244]. Daisies also have a reputation for effectiveness in
treating breast cancers[7].
The flowers and leaves are normally used fresh in decoctions, ointments and
poultices[238].
A strong decoction of the roots has been recommended for the treatment of
scorbutic complaints and eczema, though it needs to be taken for some time
before its effect becomes obvious[244]. A mild decoction may ease complaints
of the respiratory tract, rheumatic pains and painful or heavy
menstruation[244].
The plant, harvested when in flower, is used as a homeopathic remedy[232].
Its use is especially indicated in the treatment of bruising etc[232].
Other Uses
Repellent.
An insect repellent spray can be made from an infusion of the
leaves[57].
Cultivation details
Succeeds in most well-drained soils in sun or semi-shade[188, 200].
The daisy is commonly found growing in many lawns, some varieties have been
developed for the flower garden[1]. It is a good plant for the spring
meadow[24].
The plants have a very long flowering season, they will even produce a few
flowers in the middle of mild winters[K].
Propagation
Seed - sow as soon as the seed is ripe in June. When they are large
enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them
out in late summer[200].
Division after flowering[200]. Very easy, it can be done at almost any time
of the year, though spring and early summer are best[K]. The divisions can be
planted straight out into their permanent positions.
Cultivars
- ''
- There are some named forms for this species, but these have been developed for their ornamental value and not for their other uses. Unless you particularly require the special characteristics of any of these cultivars, we would generally recommend that you grow the natural species for its useful properties. We have, therefore, not listed the cultivars in this database[K].
Suppliers
For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.
PFAF Web Pages
This plant is mentioned in the following web pages
Web References
- Details of Medicinal Uses, Habitats, etc. in M. Grieve A Modern Herbal (1931) [4]
- [H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
- [E] Ethnobotany Data
(common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
- [V] Images
from the Vascular Plant Image Gallery of the Texas A&M Bioinformatics Working Group.
- [B] Data
(Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
- [C] Taxon data.
from the CalFlora database.
- Images
from the CalPhoto database.
- [G] Data
(Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
- [P] Data.
(uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
- [HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
References for bellis perennis (a possible synonym).
See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.
Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.
[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
[7] Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.
[9] Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.
[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
[21] Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
[24] Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.
Fairly good with lots of ideas about creating wildlife areas in the garden.
[52] Larkcom. J. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn 1980
A good and comprehensive guide to temperate salad plants, with full organic details of cultivation.
[57] Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.
Fairly readable but not very comprehensive. Deals with plants from around the world.
[115] Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Written about a hundred years ago, but still a very good guide to the useful plants of Britain.
[144] Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976 ISBN 0-00-634436-4
A very good pocket guide.
[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[188] Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990 ISBN 0-86318-386-7
Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[217] Les Ecologistes de l'Euzière Les Salades Sauvages Not given. 1994 ISBN 2-906128-04-X
A lovely little book about some wild salads in France. Written in French.
[232] Castro. M. The Complete Homeopathy Handbook. Macmillan. London. 1990 ISBN 0-333-55581-3
A concise beginner's guide to the subject. Very readable.
[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
[244] Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990 ISBN 0-330-30725-8
Deals with all types of herbs including medicinal, culinary, scented and dye plants. Excellent photographs with quite good information on each plant.
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Plant information taken from the
Plants For A Future -
Species Database.
Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
WEB search engine by Rich Morris - Home Page- Contact Info
Blagdon Cross, Ashwater, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DF, UK.
Website: www.pfaf.org Phone: 0845 458 4719/_44(0) 1208 872963 This page (UK) http://www.comp.leeds.ac.uk/cgi-bin/pfaf/arr_html?Bellis+perennis
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