Daisy family-Asteraceae–Compositeae
The composites are the largest and most versatile of flowering plants. The flowers are tiny and tightly packed into a compound head, surrounded by sepal-like bracts. Petals are joined into a tube, and are of two kinds, with the tube ending in five short teeth, disc florets, or in a conspicuous flat flap, ray florets.
Composite flowerheads are of three kinds: rayless, with disc florets only, like thistles; rayed with disc florets in the centres and ray florets round the edge, like daisies; and dandelion-like, with all ray florets. Fruits are tiny, often surmounted by a feathery pappus on which it floats away in the wind. Sometimes the pappuses form a rounded ‘clock’.
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WHITE DAISY-TYPE FLOWERS
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Daisy– Bellis perennis
Short– height to 10cm
Flowering more or less all year round
Familiar downy perennial found in lawns and other areas of short grass Flowers in solitary heads, 15-25mm across, on slender stems; comprising yellow disc florets and white (often faintly pink-tipped) ray florets. Fruits Achenes Leaves spoon-shaped, forming prostrate rosettes from which flower stalks arise. Status Widespread & common throughout.
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Oxeye Daisy, Moon Daisy, Dog Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
Medium – height to 60cm
Flowering May-September
A downy or hairless perennial of dry, grassy meadows, motorway & roadside verges, on disturbed ground; particularly where grass is long. Flowers in solitary heads, 30-50mm across, with yellow disc florets and white ray florets. Fruits Achenes Leaves Dark green, toothed; lower leaves spoon-shaped, stalked and forming a rosette, stem leaves pinnately lobed. Status Widespread & common throughout.
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Sea Mayweed Tripleurospermum maritimum
Medium – height to 60cm
Flowering April -October
A spreading, branched almost prostrate plant growing mainly on coastal shingle and sand. Flowers in clusters of solitary, long-stalked heads 20-40cm across, with yellow disc florets and white ray florets Receptacle domed and solid Fruits Achenes Leaves much divided into cylindrical, fleshy segments Status Widespread around coasts.
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where the wildflowers are 