DAISY
There are two very similar plants in the UK : the Oxeye Daisy and the Common Daisy. As with their close cousin, the sunflower, the centre area, in this case yellow surrounded by white, is actually many small flowers. Technically this means that what appear to be white petals are in fact BRACTS. The central yellow cluster of tiny flowers is exploited by various pollinating insects, including butterflies, bees and hoverflies.
COMMON DAISY : Bellis perennis
This is the taller daisy with solitary heads about three to five centimetres wide. It is often found along roadsides and woodland edges.
The Latin name Leucanthemum is said to have originated from the ancient Greek word ‘leucos’, meaning white. It was associated with romance and romantic predictions, possibly leading to the game and chant of ‘he loves me, he loves me not’ where petals are picked to determine luck in love.
A good spread of common daisies on the stoney slope of the Carman Reservoir.
The closer you get the more you notice. The humble daisy is an amazing design.
A green bpttle fly gives an idea of scale. If you look this closely you can clearly make out the details.
OXEYE DAISY : Leucanthemum vulgare
This is the low growing daisy with spoon-shaped leaves that form a rosette at the base of the plant/ It can be found amongst other low plants such as grass and dandelions. Both common daisies and dandelions are so frequently considered weeds to be fought against, but when you see the rich white and yellow colours speckled across a lawn or field the image can be really stunning. As the occur in amongst grass and are one of the first flowers to bloom in spring, it can be this one that is used for daisy chains during the first spring days of warmth.
Common daisies growing close to the ground.
They are often found in amongst grass and dandelions.
GARDENING KNOWHOW : https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/what-are-plant-bracts.htm
WIKIPEIDIA : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bract
WILDLIFE TRUSTS : https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/common-daisy
WOODLAND TRUST : https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/plants/wild-flowers/oxeye-daisy/
