BELLIS ANNUA subsp. ANNUA

Family:- COMPOSITAE

Common Names:- Annual daisy

Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Bellis (L) Pretty, A name used by the Roman naturalist and philosopher

Pliny.

Annua (L) Annual.

General description:- Annual, slightly hair to having stiff bristly hairs.

Stem:-

1) (2·5-)5-12(-20) cm. Usually apparent, ascending or suberect.

Leaves:-

1) Not more than 25 x 15 mm, oblanceolate-lingulate to broadly obovate-spathulate,

margins crenate-serrate to entire.

2) Petiole usually distinct in the lower leaves, less so in the upper.

Flowers:-

1) Peduncles 1·5-10 cm, slender.

2) Capitula not more than 15 mm diam.

3) Involucral bracts 2·5-3·5 mm, subacute.

4) Ligules 4·5-8 mm, often tinged with purplish-red beneath.

Fruit:-

1) Achenes, pubescent.

Key features:-

1) Usually with leafy stems.

2) Roots very slender.

3) Leaves not more than 25 x 15 mm.

4) Capitula not more than 15 mm diam.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Damp coastal meadows, seasonally wet soil pockets in open dry shrubby

vegetation, fallow terraces 0-400(900) m. occasionally to 1300 m. in dolines.

Distribution:- Coastal areas throughout Greece, but rare in the north. the

Mediterranean region, eastwards to NW Iran. Fairly widespread on Crete, but more

so in the west.

Flowering time:- End Feb to mid-May.

Photos by:- Fotis Samaritakis & Steve Lenton