Leucanthemum maximum is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name max chrysanthemum.

Leucanthemum maximum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Leucanthemum
Species:
L. maximum
Binomial name
Leucanthemum maximum

Range edit

It is native to France and Spain but it can be found growing wild in other parts of the world as an introduced species and sometimes a garden escapee.

Description edit

It is a rhizomatous perennial herb growing 30 to 70 centimeters tall with many large serrated leaves around the base of the stem on winged petioles. There are smaller lance-shaped leaves alternately arranged along the stem. The inflorescence is generally a large, solitary flower head which may exceed 8 centimeters in diameter. It has a fringe of 20 to 30 white ray florets around a center of many densely packed yellow disc florets. The fruit is a small ribbed achene without a pappus.

Taxonomy edit

This species is one of the wild chrysanthemums Luther Burbank crossed to produce the popular garden hybrid known as the Shasta daisy, Leucanthemum × superbum.[1][2]

References edit

  1. ^ Jepson Manual Treatment
  2. ^ Chicago Botanic Garden. Chicago Botanic Garden evaluates Shasta daisy. Press Release. January 15, 2007.

External links edit

  • USDA Plants Profile
  • "Leucanthemum maximum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
  • Photo gallery