About Bellis annua L.
Bellis annua L. is a small annual daisy, often slightly hairy, with a small number of small leaves and small flower heads. Its leaves may have distinct teeth, and can grow on the flower stem (examination of multiple plants is recommended for checking). Its seeds (called achenes) are covered in fine, short hairs. This species is native to Mediterranean countries, and extends eastward to Iran. Four subspecies are described here. Subspecies annua has leaves up to 2.5 cm long and flower heads up to 1.5 cm across, with 20 to 30 ray petals, and shares the full native range of the species. Subspecies vandasii (Velen.) D. A. Webb has larger leaves that grow up to 5 cm long, and larger flower heads that measure 1.2 to 2 cm across. This subspecies is found in central Bulgaria; it is listed in Flora Europaea but is not recognized on Plants of the World. Subspecies microcephala (Lange) Nyman has very small flower heads, measuring 5 to 10 mm across, with acute, stiff-haired involucral bracts beneath the flower head. It is native to Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, and Tunisia. Subspecies minuta (DC.) Meikle has shortened ray petals. It is native to Cyprus, Italy, Kriti, Palestine, and Sardegna, and almost all individuals of Bellis annua L. growing on Cyprus belong to this subspecies.
