Daisy - The Common Daisy - Flowers All Over The Western Isles
Bellis perennis is the common species of Daisy. Many related plants also share the name "Daisy", which is why it is often called the Common Daisy, Lawn Daisy or occasionally English daisy to distinguish it.
Daisies flower from March onwards but are one of a very few plants in the Western isles which in reality can be found in bloom in any month of the year.
Description
Attractive, silvery-white blooms with golden-yellow 'eyes' plant. The creeping rhizomes and small rounded or spoon-shaped evergreen leaves 2–5 cm long, grows close to ground.
The flowerheads are 2–3 cm in diameter, with white florets which are sometimes tinged maroon and yellow disc florets. The flowers are produced on leafless stems. Perhaps if the daisy were not so common, we would appreciate it more.
Medicinal Uses
The daisy has long been used traditionally for treating wounds. The leaves and the outer layer of stem have been used as a sedative or an astringent. - even also as a diuretic. It is also a herbal remedy for whooping cough, asthma and stomach upsets
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Sacred Flower for The Italians
The Italians consider the Daisy as a sacred flower. It is the star of Italy, symbol of Queen Margherita.
Bairns Flower
In Scotland, its blossoms are fondly called "bairns flowers
Loves Measure
In Germany the daisy is called "love's measure" as young girls would use the Daisy's petals in order to discover how much love was to be bestowed on young girls by their lovers |
Days Eye
The Saxon name for the common Daisy, is "day's eye". The Saxon people noted that at sunset the flower closed its petals over its yellow centre, its "eye". THe petals were opened again at dawn, just like as if it were re-opening the eye.
Fresh as a Daisy - Saying
The saying 'Fresh as A Daisy' comes about because the daisies appear refreshed after the long evening as they open their petals at dawn - so we describe someone who enjoyed a good rest as feeling "as fresh as a daisy"
Daisies for Luck
It is considered lucky to step on the first daisy flower of the year
Middle Ages Remedies
In Wales during the Middle Ages, Daisies were used to treat madness, smallpox, tumours and jaundice.
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