Daisy
Latin: Bellis perennis
Irish: Nóinín
This most familiar wild flower is encountered in virtually all parts of the course. Although one of the favourite flowers for picking by children and the raw material for “daisy chains” it can also be a troublesome weed for greenkeepers and gardeners.
It comes from the Compositae family which is characterised by “composite” flowers. What looks like a single daisy flower is, in fact, numerous small flowers massed together in a compact head.
The flower-heads close at night or even in dull weather a behaviour thought to provide the origin of the common name – “day’s eye”.
The daisy is edible and is occasionally used as a potherb or eaten in sandwiches, soups and salads. It also has a history of medicinal uses and, in places, are a popular domestic remedy with a wide range of applications. The daisy once had a great reputation as a cure for fresh wounds and chewing the fresh leaves is said to be a cure for mouth ulcers.
