The Crown Daisy (Glebionis coronaria), or lelluxa in Maltese, is one of the most prolific wild flowers in Malta. From February to May various areas around the island are carpeted with its golden flowers. The plants will wilt and dry as soon as the temperature starts to rise. This plant does not grow readily in areas where the soil contains a lot of clay as it prefers well-drained soil. But sometimes it seems as if they will grow just anywhere …
Crown daisies are not poisonous and their flowers have a pungent smell reminiscent of camomile. They are said to have expectorant properties and were used with copious amounts of black pepper to treat gonnorrhoea.
Crown daisies are frequently used by children in games of ‘he loves me, he loves me not’ when subsequent petals are removed until the last remaining petal will confirm whether he loves you or not.
A variant of this flower exists consisting of a yellow centre and white petals. This flower is much less common than the all-yellow flower. Crown daisies are at their peak right now. In a few weeks they will all disappear leaving us only with the memory of fields paved with gold.
Photographed at Fawwara
April 2011
What a beautiful flower !
ReplyDeleteDaisies are very well-suited to the 'he loves me, he loves me not,' game.
ReplyDeleteHI Loree
ReplyDeleteHow pretty pretty these daisies are.. and your lovely nature walks.. makes me want to get out and take a walk.. there.. not here.. here is getting chilly..
Thanks for popping in.. and how interesting your grandfather was in Gallipoli.. mine was English and fought in Europe.. but the Anzac Ode [from an english poem] always brings tears to my eyes.. My mum's birthday was the day after Anzac day and she died quite young so the poem has even more meaning attached to it for me..
Ok. long comment.. sorry.. Have a great week.. ciao xxx Julie
I love their fresh, cheerful yellow color. The stone wall looks so pretty with the blooming daisy plants spilling over the top!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful yellow crown daisy you have there in Malta! I especially love that stone wall with the flowers.
ReplyDeleteYes, Reach Beyond Limits and Dances Of Dreams are now re-opened, by me! Icy gave me the control for now :-) Thanks for visiting!
Beautiful flowers indeed!
ReplyDeleteLove the image of the flowers growing along the stonewall!
Beautiful flowers... send flowers to your loved ones with our Malta Flower Delivery and make them happy.
ReplyDelete