Ontario Weeds: Ox-eye daisy

Table of Contents

1. Name
2. Other Names
3. Family
4. General Description
   • Photos and Pictures
5. Stems and Roots
6. Flowers and Fruit
7. Habitat
8. 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.

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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).

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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.

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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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