Bellis

For other uses, see Bellis (disambiguation).
Bellis
Daisy (Bellis perennis)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Astereae
Genus: Bellis
L.
Type species
Bellis perennis
L.[1][2]
Synonyms[3]

Bellis is a genus of flowering plants in the sunflower family.[4][2]

The group is native to Europe, the Mediterranean and northern Africa. One species has been introduced into North America and others into other parts of the world.[5][6] The genus includes the familiar common daisy Bellis perennis.

Description

Bellis species are mostly perennials, and grow from 5–20 cm (2–8 in) tall. They have simple erect stems, and most species have basal leaves. They have radiate flower heads that are produced one per stem.[5]

Cultural references

Bellis (English Daisy) is one of the flowers mentioned by Ophelia in Shakespeare's play Hamlet. It is in this context connected with innocence.

Species

accepted species[7][3]
  1. Bellis bernardii Boiss. & Reut.
  2. Bellis caerulescens (Coss.) Coss. ex Ball
  3. Bellis cordifolia (Kunze) Willk.
  4. Bellis dubia Spreng.
  5. Bellis hyrcanica Woronow
  6. Bellis longifolia Boiss. & Heldr.
  7. Bellis microcephala Lange
  8. Bellis pappulosa Boiss. ex DC.
  9. Bellis perennis L.
  10. Bellis rotundifolia (Desf.) Boiss. & Reut.
  11. Bellis sylvestris (L.) Cyr.

References

  1. ↑ lectotype designated by N. L. Britton et A. Brown, Ill. Fl. N. U.S. ed. 2. 3: 401 (1913)
  2. 1 2 Tropicos, Bellis L.
  3. 1 2 Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist
  4. ↑ Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 2: 886-887 in Latin
  5. 1 2 FNAA (2006), Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+, ed., Flora of North America: north of Mexico, Volume 20. Magnoliophyta: Asteridae (in part): Asteraceae, part 2., New York & Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 22–23, ISBN 978-0-19-530564-7
  6. ↑ Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Bellis includes photos and European distribution maps
  7. ↑ The Plant List, search for Bellis

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bellis.
Wikisource has the text of the Encyclopaedia Britannica (9th ed.) article Daisy.


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