MARCH. 67 
SYNGENFSIA. SUPERFLUA. 
CoRALLIFLOR#, ASTERACE. 
BELLIS. (Dartsy.) 
Generic Character. Jnvolucre hemispherical, its scales all 
equal in length. Receptacle naked and conical. The flowers 
grow singly. Leaves short and rounded at the end. 
BELLIS PERENNIS. Common Daisy, or Day’s eye, as it was 
originally called. This universal favourite (for it is known 
throughout Hurope) may also be mentioned cursorily ; but 
it is so well known as to require little description, and yet 
its beauty and peculiar structure make it quite deserving 
of notice. It may be found in all seasons, but from March 
to November it is in the greatest abundance. It is a com- 
pound flower, as are all those of the class Syugenesia. They 
are called compound, because what we call one flower in 
reality consists of many; for each of the little yellow knobs 
in the centre, and the white petals at the edge, is a distinct 
flower, having stamens and pistils, or at least one of these 
essential parts of fructification. This plant has only those 
in the centre perfect, the white petals at the edge having 
merely pistils attached to them. A beautiful contrivance 
for the preservation of these central florets is shown in this 
common plant. As it grows with its head so erect, that a 
F2 
