Daisy

Daisy (Bellis), a genus of tubulifloral composites (family Asteroidæ) characterised by its conical receptacle and absence of pappus. The seven or eight species are palæarctic, save B. integrifolia of Tennessee and Arkansas. The familiar species, B. perennis, needs no description, nor can any one have failed to notice its habit of closing at night. Double varieties, crimson, pink, white, or striped, are common in gardens, and are frequently of such exuberantly vegetative habit as to produce smaller heads in the axils of the involucreal bracts of the main capitulum, whence the popular name of Hen-and-chickens. A handsome variegated variety is called aucubefolia. The characteristic beauty and almost perennial profusion of blossom have made this commonest of flowers the prime favourite alike of childish and poetic garlands, and invested its many names (Eng. Day's eye, Scot. Gowan, Fr. Marguerite, &c.) with such an unequalled wealth of associations that it must here suffice only to name Chaucer and Burns as foremost laureates of a ceaseless tribute of admiring song. The Ox-eye Daisy is a Chrysanthemum (q.v.).