Bellis perennis is a common European species of daisy, of the family Asteraceae 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.
Etymology
Bellis may come from bellus, Latin for "pretty", and perennis is Latin for "everlasting".
The name "daisy" is 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". It is also known as bone flower.
The English Daisy is also considered to be a flower of children and innocence.
Daisy is used as a girl's name and as a nickname for girls named Margaret, after the French name for the oxeye daisy,
marguerite..
Uses
The daisy may be used as a potherb. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads. Flower buds and petals can be eaten raw in sandwiches, soups and salads. It is also used as a tea and as a vitamin supplement.
