Description: The Lakeside Daisy (Hymenoxys herbacea or Tetraneuris herbacea?) is a small plant in the aster family that is characterised by a basal rosette of leaves, a tall flowering stalk, and a flowerhead composed of strap-like ray flowers surrounding a central button of tiny disk flowers. Bright yellow flowerheads are produced in early spring and produce a marvellous display when in dense colonies, earning it the nickname "Manitoulin Gold" on Manitoulin Island.The Lakeside Daisy is mainly found in alvar habitats in the Great Lakes region. It is one of a set of distinctive species that are specialized for living on shallow soil overlaying limestome bedrock. Alvar habitats typically experience waterlogging in spring but then dry out in summer. Plants grow in grasslands or in cracks in alvar pavements.This species is globally rare but locally common in Ontario, where some populations consist of thousands of plants.Status: Threatened Provincially and Nationally
Lakeside Daisy - Royal Ontario Museum
