Oxeye Daisy

Oxeye Daisy
Oxeye Daisy. Leucanthenum vulgare, also, Chrysanthemum leucanthenum.
Botanical family, common family.

Description:
Plant: Unbranched or occasionally branching stem, 1'-2', with sparse, stiff hairs, rising from basal rosette, and with alternate upper leaves, bears solitary white, classic "daisy" flowers with yellow center. Stem sometimes with purple ridges. Perennial.
Flowers: Heads of white disk flowers surrounding a yellow center, 1"-2" across, borne singly on slender stem that bears alternate leaves on its lower portion. 20-40 rays, with slightly notched tip. Center of disk is depressed initially, becoming dome-like as the seeds begin to develop. Involucral bracts overlapping. Classic "daisy"
Leaves: Basal and alternate. Elongated, coarsely toothed to pinnately lobed, generally sessile. Basal leaves often spoon-shaped, to 6", upper leaves, narrowly obovate, to 3".
Fruit: Dry, seed-like, without downy hairs.
Blooming: June-October.
Habitat: Fields, roadsides, waste areas.

Comments: A classic daisy, imported from Europe. It is reputed to give milk a bad taste if ingested in quantity by the cows. Recently placed in a new genus, on the basis of genetic studies.

Where to find it: Scattered in meadow locations throughout the park.