CHRYSANTHEMUM

genus of ornamental plants in the family Asteraceae, containing about 100 species native primarily to subtropical and temperate areas of the Old World. Cultivated species, often called mums, have large flower heads; those of wild species are much smaller. Most plants of the genus have aromatic leaves that alternate along the stem. Some have both disk and ray flowers in the heads, but others lack ray flowers. Costmary (C. balsamita); pyrethrum (C. coccineum); Marguerite, or Paris daisy (C. frutescens); Shasta daisy (hybrid forms of C. maximum); florists' chrysanthemum (C. morifolium); feverfew (C. parthenium); corn marigold (C. segetum); and tansy (C. vulgare) are popular garden plants. Feverfew and pyrethrum are used in insecticides; feverfew and tansy were used in medicines in the past.