Leucanthemum is a genus of about 70 flowering plants from the sunflower family (Asteraceae). The name Leucanthemum derives from the Greek words leukos, "white," and anthemon, "flower". It occurs in Europe, Northern Africa and the temperate regions of Asia. Many species have been introduced into America, and even Australia and New Zealand.
It consists of clumped rhizomatous perennials, or rarely annuals, growing to a height of 30cm - 1 m. They were split from the genus Chrysanthemum, because they are not aromatic and their leaves lack grayish-white hairs. The herbaceous, fast-growing stem is mostly unbranched and sprouts laterally from a creeping rootstock. The stem is glabrous or hairy below. The alternate leaves are cauline. The margins are singly to doubly toothed.
The daisy-like flower heads are terminal, mostly solitary, such as in the Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum), and rarely a few in corymbs, such as in the Oxyeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare). They vary in diameter from 3 to 8 cm. The flowers are pedunculate with involucral bracts and a flat or convex receptacle. They form 2 to 4 whorls. There are about twenty ligulate, white or pinkish ray florets. These are usually female, rarely bisexual. The numerous, tubular, yellow disc florets are bisexual.
This genus has an abundant production of 10-ribbed achenes (flat seeds) with mucilaginous cells . The pappus is usually absent, or just a small corona or auricle. Species of this genus also spread vegetatively by rooting underground stems.
Leucanthemum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the bucculatricid leaf-miners Bucculatrix argentisignella (which feeds exclusively on Leucanthemum vulgare), Bucculatrix leucanthemella and Bucculatrix nigricomella (feeds exclusively on Leucanthemum vulgare) and also Hypercompe indecisa.
Most species are considered obnoxious weeds. The Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum) is an ornamental with many cultivars, ideal for cut flowers, such as "Aglaia", "Becky", "Esther Read", "Wirral Pride", "Wirral Supreme", "Tinkerbell" and "Snow Lady".
Gallery
Ox-eye daisy (Leucantheum vulgare)
A close-up of the flowers
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Ox-eye daisy (Leucantheum vulgare)
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Species
Hybrid
- Leucanthemum x superbum ( = L. lacustre x L. maximum) : Shasta daisy
External links
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