Bellis perennis, commonly known as the daisy, is a European species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family.
It is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows up to 20 centimetres (8 inches) in height. It has short creeping rhizomes and forms rosettes of small, rounded or spoon-shaped leaves that grow flat to the ground. The plant blooms from April to October, and its flowers exhibit heliotropism, following the position of the sun in the sky. The flowerheads are composite, with white ray florets (often tipped red) and yellow disc florets.
The leaves of daisies have an ovate, elongated shape and are of a deep green color with a length of up to 4 cm (1.6 in) with a width of 2 cm (0.8 in). Likewise, the leaves are arranged as a basal rosette and grow upright in the air. The stems of the plant are rarely hairy and generally leafless.
Bellis perennis is commonly found in lawns, grassy areas, and close-cropped grasslands. It is difficult to eradicate by mowing, which is why it is sometimes called “lawn daisy.”
Daisy is a recognizable plant that adds beauty to meadows and lawns, and its appearance is a common sight on sunny days.
Habitat & cultivation
The daisy is native to the Mediterranean and Southern Europe. Even in ancient times, however, it came to Central Europe, as there were more and more meadows. The daisy family is today part of the original vegetation in Central Europe. It is widely naturalized in most temperate regions including the Americas and Australasia1.
Daisies can be found on all continents except Antarctica. They usually inhabit grasslands, meadows, gardens, urban areas, and roadsides.
Use for medicinal purposes
Traditional medicinal uses
It is a medicinal plant that has been used historically. The young leaves and flowers are edible, and the green buds can serve as a substitute for capers in cooking. Daisy has properties that help with eye and other inflammations, soothe coughs, act as a bactericide, and function as a mild laxative and antispasmodic. It is also used for wound healing and gentle care of children.
Constituents2
- flavonoids
- saponins
- triterpenes
- essential oil
- vitamins, minerals, and polysaccharides
Action and application
The entire flowering plant of Bellis perennis has medicinal properties3 and various parts of the plant exhibit multiple pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, nervous system, dermatological, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, antihemorrhagic, hemolytic, and other effects. The antimicrobial activity of the aerial parts of the plant was studied using aqueous and ethanolic extracts through an in vitro method. The plant also has radical scavenging antioxidant properties, reducing activity, total antioxidant activity, and acts as an astringent. It reduces mucous production and has anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing effects, likely due to the presence of triterpene saponins4.
TAXONOMY
KINGDOM: Plantae
ORDER: Asterales
FAMILY: Asteraceae
GENUS: Bellis
SPECIES: Bellis perennis
COMMON NAME
Common daisy, Lawn daisy, English daisy
FLOWERING TIME
IV – X month
References:
1 https://www.live-native.com/daisy/#Origin_and_occurrence_of_daisies
2 https://weclinic.in/blog/bellis-perennis-uses
3 PDR for herbal medicines, Medical Economic Co. Montvale, New Jersey, 2000, 811.
