WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND BLOSSOMS. 



The Daisy (Bettis ferennis). 



So widely distributed and well known is this plant that sur- 

 prise may be felt at its inclusion here ; but its perfect familiarity 

 marks it as a capital type of the important natural order to 

 which it belongs. What is commonly known as the flower is 

 really a corymb or level-topped cluster of many densely-packed 

 florets of two kinds. Those of the central yellow disc consist 

 each of a tubular corolla, formed by the union of five petals, 

 within which the five anthers unite to form a sheath round the 

 central pistil. The outer or ray-florets have the corolla 

 developed into an irregular white flag, which at once renders 

 the composite flower conspicuous and pretty. These outer 

 florets produce pistils only, as though the extra material 

 necessary for the production of the white flag had made 

 economy in other directions a necessity, and had prevented the 

 development of anthers and pollen. 



This is the only British species of its genus, which derives its 

 name from the Latin Bellus, pretty. Its second, or specific 

 name signifies that the plant lives for several years. It flowers 

 nearly all the year round, and occurs generally in grassy places 

 throughout the British Islands. 



The Natural Order Composite* to which Bellis belongs, includes 



