Daisy Pictures
Do Composite Flowers Make Good Daisy Pictures?
| Yellow Wildflower |
| | This daisy picture flower is a member of the composite family. See the cluster in the center |
On this page I have compiled 18 pictures for your viewing pleasure.
When you hear the term daisy, what do you think of? I always pictured the pretty little white flower with a yellow center.
What is a Daisy?
When I began this article, I started looking for the answer to that question. The first thing I discovered is that the daisy is a member of the composite family.
Well this came as no surprise. And so composite flower pictures and daisy pictues are the same thing.
| White Daisy Wildflower |
| | Wouldn't you just love to run across this path of daisies? |
But what is a "composite family"? This
is the largest family of flowers on earth. The flower heads are clusters of many small flowers growing together. This is where the name composite comes from. They are also referred to as the Daisy Family.
| Dandelion Puff |
| | Did you know that the dandelion is a member of the daisy family? |
If you look closely at the button like centers of these flowers you will be
able to see the tiny flowers. These produce many seeds. They may be
provided with bristles, prickles or soft hairs. These aid in the distribution of even more flowers.
I was really surprised to find that the dandelion is also a member of the
composite or daisy family. This daisy picture of the dandelion puff is a fine
example of the soft hairs I mentioned above.
| Dandelion Pair |
| | This pair of dandelions do resemble the daisies. You would never think they were such pesky weeds! |
If you look at the dandelion pair in this daisy picture, you can see the
resemblance to the other daisy pictures throughout this article.
Most flowers in the daisy family have flat pedals called rays. These
rays surround the in flowers in a circle. The inner flowers are the disk
or center of the daisy. Each flower is then supported by a small cluster
of leaves called bracts.
| White Yarrow Wildflower |
| | Such elegant little flowers on this yarrow. |
You
have to really look close at the yarrow to realize it is made up of clusters of
tiny flowers. Each flower is made up of tiny five petal flowers.
The white yarrow picture is a wildflower. But this yellow yarrow was
grown in the gardens at the Morton Arboretum. This picture is not as close
so you really are not able to see the small flowers that make up each head.
| Yellow Yarrow |
| | This Yarrow is
cultivated. I took this picture at the Morton Arboretum. |
[A little trivia] Did you know that the stems of the Yarrow are used in I
Ching? The stems are sturdy and strong and make perfect sticks for this ancient
Chinese Book of Changes. "The ancients said that the stalk of the
yarrow had a special spiritual nature and was, therefore, suitable for
divination." (The I Ching The Book of Changes and How to Use It, Interpreted by WU WEI, Power Press, 1995).
| Canada Thistle |
| | This common thistle is actually a native to Europe |
Sometimes the composite or daisy family looks nothing like a daisy at
all. The thistle that you see growing in many fields and roadsides are
also a member of the composite family. They have long thin petals (rays)
that you see at the tops of their stems. When they are fully open they
become puffs of seeds that assure they will continue to grow.
| White Daisy Fleabane |
| | Found in fields, roadsides, and waste lands. |
Daisy pictures can also make come from Asters and Asterlike Flowers. A
good example is the Daisy Fleabane you see here. This flower starts
blooming in spring and can be found all summer up to October. These
flowers have 40 to 70 petals.
| Golden Ragwort |
| | This asterlike flower has fewer rays than the daisy fleabane |
Another asterlike flower is the Golden Ragwort. They also bloom in
spring but only through July. They have fewer petals. They grow in
wet ground, low woods, swamps, and meadows.
Our collection of daisy pictures would not be complete without mention of the
black-eyed susan. This beautiful flower is planted at the edge of our little street. It marks the entrance to our little community.
| Black Eyed Susan |
| | That smooth center disk is where this flower gets its name. |
Notice the chocolate disk center
surrounded by beautiful yellow petals.
This flower is really rather large. That smooth center disk is where this
flower gets its name.
| Purple Cone Flower |
| | This flower is also known as the Echinacea |
Another daisylike flower is the Cone Flower collection. Cone flowers
are different colors. You may find them in yellow, orange or purple.
This picture is of a purple cone flower.
Did you know that the cone flower is also Echinacea. Echinacea is
actually an herb often used to fight infections. The coneflower grows all
over. I have seen them in California as well as here in Illinois.
This picture was taken at the edge of a local grocery store parking lot.
Another aster flower is the New England Aster. The leaves are
mostly toothless and hug the stems. You can see just a little of the leaves in this picture. I do like to get close to the flower when I take
pictures.
| New England Aster |
| | This wildflower is often cultivated. |
This flower is one of the most showy wildflowers. It is often
cultivated as well. They bloom in thickets, meadows, and wet spots.
They bloom from August to October. I took this picture in September of
2005.| Purple and Pale Purple Daisy |
| | I took this picture in California |
This next set of daisy like flowers on your right are so
beautiful. I took this picture in California. But I have more
pictures that I will be publishing that I took just up the block from me.I am
not sure what the name is of these daisies. I remember I used to have some
that were called a Shasta Daisy. The cool thing about those Daisies
was that they started every morning a pale pink. As they soaked in the
sun's rays they would turn a beautiful deep fuchsia. | Pink and White Daisies |
| | These daisies are growing in a pot. |
Daisies and daisy
like flowers are not confined to flower gardens and the wild life. These flowers
are growing nicely in a hanging flower pot. | Pink Daisies |
| | These lovely flowers were taken in the fall of last year. |
The composite family makes up a large variety of the flowers you find. This beautiful bunch of pink
flowers were growing in my neighbor's flower bed. They were taken in the fall of last year.
The deep pink of these daisies really caught my eye while visiting the grand
children. This is a close-up of the flowers growing at the end of the
yard. The bush takes up a corner of the front yard.
| Deep Pink Daisies |
| | These flowers are growing on a bush in the corner of the yard. |
This picture was taken in California in early April. Can you see the
double petals surrounding the center button? Those orange dots in the
buttons are tiny flowers. And so this makes them a member of the
composite/daisy family.
| California Wild flower |
| | This flower grows all over California. They appear to be a common groundcover. |
Since we are on the subject of California, lets look at these wild
flowers. I have never seen these growing around Illinois. They
appear to be a common ground cover.
Here again you have the composite
appearance. I call them California dandelions:)
This particular one has a deep orange center. When they first start out
they are more yellow all around with a darker circle around the center disk.
| Dark Pink Painted Daisy |
| | Picture taken at Naperville Riverwalk. |
Back on the home front, these dark pink daisies will round up our daisy
pictures page. These flowers are growing in a flower bed. They look
like painted daisies. The are a part of the Naperville Riverwalk
flowers. Every year you are sure to be presented with a different
arrangement of both cultivated and wild flowers to enjoy on your walks there.
Some composite flowers do not have rays (pedals). This article does
not include any of the rayless wildflowers that are in the daisy/composite
family.
I used the information contained in Peterson Field Guides /
Wildflowers (Northeastern/North-central North America) by Roger Tory Peterson and Margaret McKenny.
This is an excellent book filled with information about wildflowers. I
only have one complaint. Many of the pictures are done in black and white
drawings. When this happens, it is really hard to identify the flowers. But I am learning:) If you would like to get a copy of any
of the Peterson Field Guides, I highly recommend Wal-mart online. They
have this guide (ISBN 0-395-91172-9). And best of all you can get 97 cent Shipping on Books at Walmart.com
I hope you have enjoyed this collection of daisy pictures. As always please feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions. Would you like to share your own daisy pictures. I can be reached through our
contact us form
Are you looking for a unique gift for the daisy lover in your life? Why not check out our digital artwork created from daisy pictures. You will find beautiful artwork on a variety of unique gift items such as t-shirts, clocks, or just a print for your wall. You can see them at Daisy Picks
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