Daisy flower
April Birth Flower
Daisy is a sunlike flower appearance which has ray flowers (commonly called petals) surround a golden center of tiny disk flowers, an arrangement typical of the composite family. Daisy is the second largest family of flowering plants, in terms of number of species. Its plants make up nearly ten percent of all flowering plants on earth, and its arguable as to wether it or the orchid family holds more genera and species. Some daisies open thier petals in the morning when the sun comes up and close them at night when the sun is down (that is why daisies are sometimes called "day's eye"). Daisy flowers include not only the blooms most people are familiar with, but also popular health herbs such as echinacea and arnica, and many edible plants such as artichokes and endive. |
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Physical Appearance and Characteristics
A daisy is a mix of two flowers called a disk floret and a white ray floret. The ray florets are at the periphery and the disk florets are at the center. It is the arrangement of these florets that gives it an appearance of a single flower. This arrangement on daisy is a type of inflorescence known as a capitulum.
The plants have 3 – 4 inch flower stalks, its evergreen leaves form a basal tuft or rosette. The texture of the leaf varies and may be hairy or smooth, narrow at the base and slightly lobed. The stalks of the flower are generally longer than the leaves. Daisies are most commonly found with bright yellow centers and pure white petals.
Daisy belongs to the Daisy family of Compositae, known now as Asteraceae in flowering plants and they are native to central and north Europe. Daisies are perennial bloomers, meaning they bloom yearly. The plant grows in prostrate fashion, and it can be propagated either by sowing seeds in spring or late autumn or by division in spring. These beautiful flowers can last up to several weeks when placed in fresh water and exposed to the appropriate amount of sunshine.
Uses of Daisies
The leaves of daisy are consumable and are often used in salads and the flower itself used in making honey and herbal tea. The flowers are used by children to make daisy chains. They are often used as corsages for weddings and proms and are an excellent choice for arrangements and flower vases. When used in floral arrangements, daisies go well with almost every other kind of flower. White daisies make excellent fillers and are used to create a dramatic look alongside other colorful flowers. The common daisy has astringent properties which used in traditional medicines. Certain types of daisies were also known to have medicinal properties that could give relief from indigestion, cough and even heal wounds. They are an important form of nutrition for worms and cattle. It is rich in vitamin C and other minerals.
Colors, Meanings and Types of Daisies
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The most common daisies are white but they can also be found in red, yellow, and purple, along with various shades in between. The gerbera daisy (also known as the African daisy, transvaal daisy, gerb, and Barberton daisy) is a perennial favorite. The gerbera daisy has large colorful blooms, it has become the most prized daisy variety due to its bold and striking appearance. Among the daisy varieties, African daisy and Shasta daisy are the most popular varieties. Gerbera daisy is also the fifth most used cut flower in the world (after rose, carnation, chrysanthemum, and tulip). Its leaves and petals are edible and it can also be brewed as a tea to sooth sore throats and stomach aches. |
This april birth flower has the flower meaning of implicity, modesty, innocence, stability, sympathy and cheerfulness. An alternate birth flower for april is the sweet pea. Summer (when thundershowers occur very often) is the peak blooming season for daisy flower, therefore daisy flower is also known as ‘thunderflower’ in some regions. The famous “she loves me, she loves me not” method where people pluck out the petals to tell love’s fortune was first used with the daisy.
Other popular types of daisy flower are:
- Blue daisy
- Butter daisy
- Common or English daisy (bellis perennis)
- Crown daisy
- Dahlberg daisy
- Gerbera daisy
- Giant daisy
- Gloriosa daisy
- Livingstone daisy
- Marguerite daisy
- Michaelmas daisy
- Painted daisy
- Paris daisy
- Prairie daisy (or lazy daisy)
- Spanish daisy
- Sunshine daisy
- Swan River daisy
- Tahoka daisy
- Tatarian daisy
- Transvaal daisy
- White button daisy
- Zulu princess daisy
Daisies are found in all types of trampled, mown or grazed calcareous and neutral grassland, it thrives best in areas thet become fairly wet for some of the year. This species also known as weed of lawns, pastureland and roadside verges, it also occurs on dune-slacks, riverbanks and lake margins.
Daisies are not often bothered by disease or insects, therefore they do not normally need any fungicides or pesticides. Because the daisy’s needs are very few, the flower survives successfully even under difficult urban conditions. Daisies also tend to spread quickly and can grow like weeds. In the northern United States, English Daisy is a serious weed.
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