2-701-709 - © National Museum of Wales/Heritage-Images

Bellis perennis, (Daisy), c1770-1790. Though invasive, the species is still considered a valuable ground cover. It has astringent properties and has been used in herbal medicine. In ancient Rome, surgeons who accompanied Roman legions into battle would order slaves to pick sacks full of daisies in order to extract their juice. Bandages were soaked in this juice and would then be used to bind sword and spear cuts.