Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum, a large group of flowering herbs found in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. There are several hundred wild and cultivated species and varieties, both annual and perennial. Some of the more common cultivated chrysanthemums are also known by the names of feverfew, pyrethrum, and marguerite. A common chrysanthemum is the field (or oxeye) daisy.
Chrysanthemums range in height from two inches to six feet (5 to 180 cm), depending on the species. What appears to be a single chrysanthemum flower is actually a flower head composed of many small individual flowers. In most species, the flower head is round with ray flowers surrounding a center of compact disc flowers. Depending on the species or variety, the flower heads can be of almost any color except blue or purple. Some of the cultivated species grown in gardens and greenhouses produce large, globe-shaped flower heads that may grow to about eight inches (20 cm) in diameter.
Chrysanthemums usually bloom in the fall, some as late as December. They are hardy, rather coarse plants, with strong scents. Chrysanthemums are grown from seeds or cuttings, or by division of the roots. Many of the American species and varieties are hybrids of Chinese and Japanese chrysanthemums. The chrysanthemum is the national flower of Japan.
Chrysanthemums make up the genus Chrysanthemum of the family Compositae.