| Tanacetum coccineum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Tanacetum |
| Species: | T. coccineum |
| Binomial name | |
| Tanacetum coccineum (Willd.) Grierson | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
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Tanacetum coccineum, also known as the painted daisy, is a species of flowering plant within the family Asteraceae.
Tanacetum coccineum is a perrenial, [2] which can reach heights ranging between 20 and 60 cm tall. [3] The leaves of the plant are mostly smooth and are either nearly stalkless or on short stalks ranging between 2 to 10 cm long. [4] The lower leaves are larger and twice-divided into narrow, lance-shaped lobes, while the upper leaves become smaller and less divided. [4] The flower heads are solitary and host a single flower per stem. [3] Flowers can exhibit either pink, red or white petals and each flower possess flat yellow disk florets in the centre of the bloom. [5] Flowers can be encountered in single or double flower forms, with double flowers possessing more petals. [5] The species is diploid, with a chromosome count of 36 (2n = 36). [3]
Tanacetum coccineum is native to Eastern Europe to Central Asia, where it can be found in Iran, Kazakhastan, Tszhikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Eastern European Russia and the Caucasus. [2] The species is popular in horticulture and has also been introduced outside of their natural range around the world. Countries it has been introduced into include: France, Germany, India, Italy, Jawa, Kirgizstan, Mexico Southeast, Mozambique, New York, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. [2]
Tanacetum coccineum is native to hot and humid environments, [6] where it grows on rocky mountain slopes. [7]
The following subspecies are recognised: [2]
Tanacetum coccineum can be grown as an ornamental garden plant. [5] The species can also be cultivated for its insecticide properties. [3] Plants can be used in companion planting to repel pests from crops and ornamental garden plants. [7] It can also be grown as a cut flower. [5]
In the Middle East the insecticide properties of Tanacetum coccineum are utalized to treat parasitic lice infestations. The insecticide powder produced from T. coccineum is known as Persian powder . [7]
In Turkey this species is traditionally used as a medicinal plant to try and treat sterility. Parts of the plant are boiled in the process of decoction to produce a concentrated liquor. [8]