Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium

pyrethrum-daisy.jpg

NAME: Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium

FAMILY: Compositae

COMMON NAMES: Pyrethrum, Pyrethrum daisy, Dalmatian pyrethrum, Dalmatian chrysanthemum

LOCAL NAMES: Dalmatian chrysanthemum

MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION: Pyrethrum is a perennial plant with blue-green leaves and grow to 45 to 100 cm (18 to 39 in) in height. It has a white petaled daisy-like flowers with yellow centers.

USEFUL PART(s): flower heads, seed

GENERAL USES:

  • Food

  • Ornamental plant

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

China, Japan, Korea, America, Australia, Kenya, Tanzania, Ecuador

WHY IS IT GREEN?

  • Fever

  •   Wounds

  • general debility

  •   Insecticide.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

  • Chrysanthemum plants have been shown to reduce indoor air pollution

  • Pyrethrins are harmful to fish, but are far less toxic to mammals and birds compare to other insecticides

FUN FACT

  • Pyrethrins gotten from the flowers are among safest insecticides for use around food.

  • Insecticides from Pyrethrum are Biodegradable

FURTHER READINGS

Jones GDG (1973) Pyrethrum production. In: Casida JE (ed) Pyrethrum, the natural insecticide. Academic Press, New York, pp 17–22.

Karki A, Rajbhandary SB (1984) Clonal propagation of Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium Vis. (pyrethrum) through tissue culture. Pyrethrum Post 15(4): 118–121.

Roest S, Bokelmann GS (1973) Vegetative propagation of Chrysantheum cinerariaefolium in vitro. Sci Hortic 1:120–122.

Cassada JE (ed) (1973) Pyrethrum — the natural insecticide. Academic Press, London New York.