Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemums are perennial and annual herbs that are common household plants and are easy to grow and take care of. There are over one hundred sixty different types of species of chrysanthemums. These flowers are used from recipes to medical treatments.

Anatomy
General

Chrysanthemums are annual and perennial flowering herbs that come in a spectrum of color and a variety of shapes. Chrysanthemums commonly range from assorted shades of red, purple, yellow, and white. . . most colors except blue. Their flowers are extremely varied in shape. Some mums are spherical and have incurved petals, some have tubular-shaped petals of unequal length that hook inward at the end. Still others have spoon-shaped petals. They deviate from long and attenuate to more concise, ample, structures. The head of these flowers range from a star-shaped to a shaggy appearance. Chrysanthemum blooms can be as tiny as one centimeter or as large across as twenty-five centimeters. The configurations of their leaves fluctuate from egg-shaped to longer and more circular, with a toothed edge. Chrysanthemums typically grow from 30 - 150 centimeters tall depending on the species.

Different Types

Spider - similar to the anemone except the petals of the ray and disk flowers are long and tubular.

Singles - Singles are the common daisy shaped flower made up of a couple rows of extraneous ray flowers circumventing a small group of short disk flowers.

Anemones - similar to the single form except the disk flowers have more conspicuous, elongated and tubular petals forming a cushion.

Decoratives - the head is composed of many ray flowers that cover the disk flowers, but the outer rows are longer than the inner rows so the inflorescence in more float and open.

Pompons - a globular head formed by many short ray flowers of about equal length that cover the disk flowers so they are not apparent. Small pompon types are called "buttons".

Quilled - similar to the single except the petals are narrow at the base and flair toward the end to form a "spoon" shape.

Large Flowered - this is a catch-all group composed of flowers of many forms but all must be larger than 4" in diameter.

Spoon - it has the look of a daisy, but the petals are flat with the tips having a spoon-like appearance.

Football - chrysanthemums that grow extremely large (like a football) and tall.

Reproduction
by bees, insects, ect. flower grows at the top of stalk w/capitulum female ligule flowers stand at the periphery of the capitulum at center of the capitulum are bisexual tubulose flowers

The methods of reproduction consist of seed reproduction and nutrition reproduction.

Ecology
Diseases

Some insects that are found in chrysanthemums are aphids, two spotted mites, four-lined plant bugs, spittlebugs, inchworms, and grasshoppers. Powdery mildew, fungus, mold, and bacteria can also be a dangerous foe to the plant during rainy seasons. Most of these conditions can easily be controlled or removed with common spraying products.

Medical Uses

Chrysanthemums can be very beneficial for people's health. For example, in overheated areas, this plant is very advantageous for staying cooled. In addition to this, chrysanthemums are also favorable for fighting fevers and skin irritation, infection, tenderness, rashes, and sores by creating a cream out of the flower head and smoothing it on the area. The chrysanthemum is also known to assist internal functions as well, such as ameliorating eyesight and liver function and hypertension.

Culinary

Chrysanthemums can be used in a variety of dishes:

• Herb in soup

• Herb on potatoes

• Chrysanthemums with minced vegetables

• Pan-fried chrysanthemum

• Boiled chrysanthemum (similar to spinach)

• Chrysanthemum salad

• Chrysanthemum tea

Origin
"Chrysanthemum" originated from the Greek word "krus anthemon", or golden flower. Chrysanthemums are native to Europe, South Africa, and Asia. In China, they were grown for about two thousand years as a medical, cosmetic, and healing herb that were described in ancient Chinese scrolls as early as 15th century B.C. The chrysanthemum is the floral emblem of the imperial family of Japan and is featured on their flag and weaponry. The highest officials are honored with chrysanthemums because the flowers are believed to be the sign of life and happiness. Chrysanthemums were introduced to England in the late 18th century, and today multitidinous named floricultural progeny subsist.