Bellis perennis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Bellis
Species:	B. perennis
Binomial name
Bellis perennis L.
Synonyms
Aster bellis E.H.L.Krause Bellis alpina Hegetschw. Bellis armena Boiss. Bellis croatica Gand. Bellis hortensis Mill. Bellis hybrida Ten. Bellis integrifolia DC. Bellis margaritifolia Huter Bellis minor Garsault [Invalid] Bellis perennis var. caulescens Rochebr. Bellis perennis f. discoidea D.C.McClint. Bellis perennis var. fagetorum Lac. Bellis perennis var. hybrida (Ten.) Fiori Bellis perennis subsp. hybrida (Ten.) Nyman Bellis perennis var. margaritifolia (Huter) Fiori Bellis perennis var. microcephala Boiss. Bellis perennis f. plena Sacc. Bellis perennis f. pumila (Arv.-Touv. & Dupuy) Rouy Bellis perennis var. pusilla N.Terracc. Bellis perennis f. rhodoglossa Sacc. Bellis perennis var. strobliana Bég. Bellis perennis var. subcaulescens Martrin-Donos Bellis perennis var. tubulosa F.J.Schultz Bellis perennis f. tubulosa A.Kern. Bellis pumila Arv.-Touv. & Dupuy Bellis pusilla (N.Terracc.) Pignatti Bellis scaposa Gilib. [Invalid] Bellis validula Gand. Erigeron perennis (L.) Sessé & Moc.[1]

Bellis perennis is a common European species of Daisy, of the aster family, often considered the archetypal species of that name. Many related plants also share the name "daisy", so to distinguish this species from other daisies it is sometimes qualified as common daisy, lawn daisy or English daisy. Historically, it has also been commonly known as bruisewort and occasionally woundwort (although the common name woundwort is now more closely associated with Stachys or Betony). Bellis perennis is native to western, central and northern Europe. The species is widely naturalised in North America,^[2] and also introduced to temperate and oceanic/maritime climate zones of South America.^[2][3]

Growth[link]

It is a herbaceous plant with short creeping rhizomes and small rounded or spoon-shaped evergreen leaves that are from 3/4 to 2 inches (approx. 2–5 cm) long and grow close to the ground. The English daisy can also withstand moderate foot traffic, which is why Bellis perennis is also commonly referred to as lawn daisy. This plant is sometimes considered an invasive weed ^[4] in the Northeast of the United States, as well as elsewhere where summers are cool and moist (e.g., the United Kingdom or the Pacific Northwest), although it 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 color is desired in parallel with minimal care and maintenance while helping to crowd out noxious weeds once established and naturalized).

The flowerheads are 3/4 to 1-1/4 in (approx. 2–3 cm) in diameter, with 15-30 white ray florets (often tipped red) and yellow disc florets.

Although the 'flower' may appear to consist of a yellow centre with white petals, this is not the case. Each individual "petal" is itself an individual flower, called "asterales" ^[5]. In the centre there are many tiny yellow flowers also. The different colours and styles of flower work together in order to attract insects. This type of flower is known as a composite flower. They are produced on leafless stems 3/4 - 4 in (approx. 2–10 cm), rarely 6 in (approx. 15 cm) tall.

Bellis perennis generally blooms May through July, although when grown under ideal conditions, they have a very long flowering season and will even produce a few flowers in the middle of mild winters.^[6][7]

The lawn daisy is a dicot that can generally be grown in USDA Zones 4-8 (-30 to -25 F, or -34 to -32C) in full sun to partial shade conditions, and requires low or no maintenance. The lawn daisy 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.^[6][8]

Etymology[link]

Bellis is Latin for "pretty" and perennis is Latin for "everlasting".

The name "daisy" is occasionally considered a corruption of "day's eye", because the whole head closes at night and opens in the morning. Chaucer called it "eye of the day". In Medieval times, bellis perennis or the English Daisy was commonly known as "Mary's Rose". ^[9]

The English Daisy is also considered to be a flower of children and innocence ^[10].

Daisy is a common girl's name and is a nickname for girls named Margaret, after the French name for the oxeye daisy, marguerite.

Uses[link]

Daisies or Bellis perennis in Coudersport, PA

This daisy may be used as a potherb. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked, noting that the leaves become increasingly astringent with age.^[6] Flower buds and petals can be eaten raw in sandwiches, soups and salads.^[7] It is also used as a tea and as a vitamin supplement.^[2]

It is not affected by mowing and is therefore sometimes considered a weed in lawns, although it is widely valued for the appearance of the flowers and is often considered both a valuable ground cover and ornamental. Several cultivars and hybrids have been selected with much larger flower heads in excess of approximately 2 - 2.25 in (5–6 cm) diameter and with light pink to purple-red ray florets.

Bellis perennis has astringent properties and has been used in folk medicine.^[11] In ancient Rome, the surgeons who accompanied Roman legions into battle would order their slaves to pick sacks full of daisies in order to extract their juice, hence the origin of this plant's scientific name in Latin. Bandages were soaked in this juice and would then be used to bind sword and spear cuts. Bellis perennis is still used in homeopathic medicine as a treatment for wounds and after certain surgical procedures ^[12][13], as well as for blunt trauma ^[14][15]. Typically, the plant is harvested while in flower when intended for use in homeopathic remedies.^[7]

Daisies have traditionally been used for making daisy chains in children's games.^[16]

See also[link]

• Asteraceae

References[link]

1. ^ http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/gcc-29324
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Bellis perennis Linnaeus". Flora of North America. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200023530. 
3. ^ PLANTS Profile., "Bellis perennis L. lawndaisy", USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=bepe2
4. ^ USDA Northeast Invasive Plants http://plants.usda.gov/java/invasiveOne?pubID=NEAST invasive
5. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/39703/Asterales
6. ^ ^{a b c} "Bellis perennis L.". Missouri Botanical Garden Bellis perennis. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/plant-finder/plant-details/kc/b749/bellis-perennis.aspx. 
7. ^ ^{a b c} "Bellis perennis L". Plants for a Future database Bellis perennis. http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Bellis+perennis. 
8. ^ "USDA Zones". USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/. 
9. ^ The Plant-Lore and Garden-Craft of Shakespeare, by Henry N. Ellacombe. W. Satchell and Company, London, 1884
10. ^ "Daisy." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed., 2011. Encyclopedia.com
11. ^ Howard, Michael. Traditional Folk Remedies (Century, 1987), p129
12. ^ Healthy.net http://www.healthy.net/Health/Essay/Pre_Surgical_and_Post_Surgical_Treatment/167/2
13. ^ Homeopathy.org http://www.homeopathy.org/
14. ^ Medicine Garden http://www.medicinegarden.com/homeopathy/bellis_perennis_menopause.html
15. ^ Veterinary Homeopathy http://www.petremedycharts.com/Learning%20Center/Homeopathy/Homeopathic%20Remedies/Homeopathic_Remedies/Bellis_perennis_Homeopathy_for_Animals.html
16. ^ "Children's 'right to play'". BBC News. BBC. 2002-08-07. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/2176467.stm. Retrieved 2008-11-02. 

External links[link]

• Bellis perennis (USDA plant profile)
• [1] (PFAF Bellis perennis profile)

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This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2008)

Sextus Tigidius Perennis (died 185) was a prefect of the Roman imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard, during the reigns of the emperors Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Under the latter, Perennis was the man who exercised the chief responsibilities of government in the Roman Empire. In 185 however, Perennis was implicated in a plot to overthrow the emperor by his political rival Marcus Aurelius Cleander, and executed under orders of Commodus.

Family[link]

He was the son of Gnaeus Cornelius Tegidus^[1] and married Domnia The Dobrogean in 180 AD. They had Papiria Celena Verch Gurdomnus that year and Septimus Tigidius afterwards.

Rise to power[link]

Perennis was appointed Praetorian Prefect after the execution of the incumbent Prefect Paternus, who had displeased Commodus by ordering without consent the death of the Emperor's lover and friend Saoterus for his questionable involvement in an assassination plot headed by Lucilla and Marcus Ummidius Quadratus Annianus. Perennis himself was influential in the instigation of his predecessor Paternus's punishment.^[2]

Political career[link]

Herodian describes how Perennis capitalised on Commodus's distrust of the Roman Senate (following the aforementioned assassination attempt to which the Senate was linked) by destroying many powerful Senators and claiming their wealth as his own.^[3] So too was Perennis thought to have held ambitions of military power: soldiers were given lavish gifts in an attempt to seduce them to his cause, and his sons were appointed to commanding army roles.^[4] The Augustan History suggests Perennis also persuaded Commodus to allow him political control, freeing the Emperor for his more hedonistic personal pursuits.^[5]

Downfall[link]

Commodus was warned both by his friends^[6] and his soldiers^[7] of the rising influence of Perennis, and the Praetorian Prefect was soon, in 185, executed on these grounds. Instrumental in Perennis's downfall was Marcus Aurelius Cleander, who would go on to fulfill a similar role in the next period of Commodus's reign.

References[link]

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