Ontario Weeds: Ox-eye daisy
Table of Contents
- Name
- Other Names
- Family
- General Description
- Stems and Roots
- Flowers and Fruit
- Habitat
- Related Links
Name: Ox-eye daisy, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum
L.,
Other Names: CHYLE, marguerite blanche,
Field daisy, White daisy, grande marguerite, marguerite, chrysanthème
leucanthème
Family: Composite or Aster Family (Compostiae)
General Description: Perennial, reproducing
by seed and by underground rhizomes. It is distinguished by its dark
green, smooth, somewhat fleshy, dissected or coarsely toothed leaves,
its large, conspicuous, daisy-like flower heads with white rays and
yellow centres, its rhizomatous and fibrous-rooted underground system,
and its disagreeable odour.
Photos and Pictures
Ox-eye daisy. A. Young rosette. |
B. Older plant with flowering stems. |
The Composite "Flower Head" of Ox-eye daisy. A.
Flower head viewed form above. B. Flower head viewed from below.
C. Vertical section through flower head and stalk. D. Side view
of on e disk or tubular floret. E. Front view of one sterile ray
or ligulate floret (without either stamens or stigma).
Stems & Roots: Stems erect or curving
upwards 20 - 90 cm (8 - 36 in.) high, single from upturned ends of
rhizomes, or few to many from a stout root-crown; lower leaves broadly
spoon-shaped, deeply and coarsely dissected or toothed, stalked, smooth,
dark green, often glossy and fleshy; upper leaves narrower, similarly
dissected or deeply toothed, stalkless and often clasping the stem,
alternate (1 per node).
Flowers & Fruit: Flower heads large
and showy, daisy-like, 2.5 - 5 cm (1 - 2 in.) across, borne singly
at ends of stems and main branches; ray florets usually 15 to 30 per
head, white, 1 - 2 cm (2/5 - 4/5 in.) long; disk florets bright yellow,
short, numerous, densely packed, forming a slightly rounded centre;
involucral bracts at base of each head numerous, firm, overlapping,
light green with brownish margins; seeds top-shaped with a knob-like
projection on the upper end, ridged, and with alternate black and
white stripes. When crushed, all parts of the plant have a disagreeably
sour odour. Flowers from early June to late autumn.
Habitat: Ox-eye daisy is very common
and conspicuous throughout Ontario, often forming dense infestations
in pastures, meadows and waste places, but also occurring in cultivated
land, roadsides, gardens and lawns.
Related Links
... on general Weed
topics
... on weed identification, order OMAFRA Publication 505: Ontario Weeds
... on weed control, order OMAFRA Publication 75: Guide To Weed Control
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