Glebionis Coronaria: The Mediterranean Gem You Need to Know About

Glebionis coronaria belongs to the Asteraceae family and is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant. This plant features an upright stem that can reach up to one meter in height, with a smooth, soft, and succulent texture.

Its leaves are alternately arranged without stalks, are elliptical in shape, and have a pale green color. Their edges are irregularly and deeply toothed.

The inflorescence is a single terminal head, blooming with yellow or white flowers. Crown Daisy propagates through seeds, typically planted in August or September.

Originally native to the Mediterranean, Crown Daisy has a long history of cultivation. It prefers cool climates, is highly frost-resistant, but does not tolerate high temperatures.

Its growth slows below 12℃ and deteriorates above 29℃. As a long-day plant, it grows rapidly and has modest light requirements.

It thrives best in fertile, well-moisturized sandy loam or clay loam soil. Initially a wild plant, it is now cultivated year-round, with more abundance in the south.

Crown Daisy is rich in vitamins and various amino acids, providing benefits such as heart nourishment, calming effects, blood pressure reduction, and brain nourishment.

Its volatile oils, which give it a special fragrance, can help soothe the stomach, regulate qi, and stimulate the appetite. However, it is not recommended for those with diarrhea to consume it in excess.

I. Physical Characteristics

As an annual or biennial herbaceous plant, it has an upright stem reaching up to one meter in height, with a smooth, soft, and succulent texture.

Its leaves are alternately arranged, stalkless, elliptical, pale green, and irregularly and deeply toothed. The inflorescence is a single terminal head, blooming with yellow or white flowers.

Stem and Leaves

The smooth, hairless or nearly hairless stem can reach up to 70 cm in height, with little to no branching, except from the upper-middle part.

The basal leaves wither during the flowering period. The middle and lower stem leaves are long elliptical or inversely ovate, 8-10 cm long, stalkless, and twice pinnately divided.

Flowers

The inflorescences are solitary at the top of the stem or occasionally at the stem branch ends, but do not form distinct umbel inflorescences. The flower stems are 15-20 cm long.

The involucre is 1.5-3 cm in diameter with 4 layers, the innermost being 1 cm long, with membranous tips expanded into appendage-like forms. The ligule is 1.5-2.5 cm long.

Fruits

The ligulate flower’s achene has three prominent narrow-winged ribs, with 1-2 obvious intercostal ribs. The tubular flower’s achene has 1-2 oval protruding ribs and less obvious intercostal ribs. The flowering and fruiting period is from June to August.

II. Place of Origin and Habitat

Tong Hao, also known as Garland Chrysanthemum, originates from the Mediterranean region and has a wide distribution, but its cultivation area in the northern and southern regions is quite small.

III. Growth Habit

Garland Chrysanthemum is a semi-hardy vegetable that thrives in cool climates. It has strong cold tolerance but does not withstand high temperatures. Its growth slows under 12°C and deteriorates above 29°C.

It does not require intense light exposure, and generally prefers weaker light. As a short-day plant, it grows best in fertile, water-retentive sandy loam or clay loam soil. Maintaining a relative soil humidity of 70%-80% is beneficial for its growth.

In long-daylight conditions, its nutritional growth cannot fully develop, and it quickly enters the reproductive stage and starts to flower and seed.

IV. Main Varieties

Large-Leaf Garland Chrysanthemum

Also known as Broad-Leaf or Round-Leaf Garland Chrysanthemum, this variety has large, thick leaves with fewer shallow notches, shaped like a spoon. The plant is green with wax powder; the stem is short, with dense and thick nodes.

It is light green, tender, with few fibers, and of good quality. It is more heat-resistant but less cold-hardy, grows slowly and matures slightly late. It is suitable for cultivation in the southern regions.

Small-Leaf Garland Chrysanthemum

Also known as Floral-Leaf or Fine-Leaf Garland Chrysanthemum. Its leaves are narrow and small, with many deep notches, and the leaf meat is thinner, with a strong aroma.

The stem and branches are thinner, and it grows quickly. It has strong cold resistance but is less heat-tolerant and matures earlier. It is suitable for cultivation in the northern regions.

V. Cultivation Techniques

Garland Chrysanthemum is propagated by seeds.

Planting Method

Preparing the Land and Fertilizing

Before sowing, apply sufficient base fertilizer, 1500-2000 kg per acre, plus 20-25 kg of diammonium phosphate, spread evenly in the field, then plow and level the land into flat ridges.

Sowing

Garland Chrysanthemum cultivation mainly involves broadcasting or row sowing. After sowing, cover the soil about 1 cm, then rake and compact it.

Spring sowing is usually between March and April, autumn sowing between August and September, and winter sowing between November and December.

The small-leaf variety is suitable for dense planting and requires more seeds, about 2-2.5 kg per acre. The large-leaf variety has many side branches and a wide spread, requiring fewer seeds, about 1 kg per acre.

Field Management

Temperature

The optimal growth temperature for Garland Chrysanthemum is 17-20°C. In early Spring, the weather can still be quite chilly and may experience late frosts.

Therefore, after sowing, it is necessary to cover the ridges with mulch or old shed film, firm the soil around it for frost protection and insulation.

Once the weather warms up and the seedlings emerge, remove the film. If the temperature exceeds 25°C in a protected planting area, open the vents for ventilation.

Thinning and Weeding

When the seedlings reach about 10 cm, thin the small-leaf variety to a plant-row spacing of 3-5 cm and the large-leaf variety to about 20 cm, while weeding.

Watering and Fertilizing

Start watering after the seedlings emerge. Adjust the watering schedule and frequency to keep the soil moist. Apply a quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer about 10-15 days before each harvest, using about 15 kg of potassium nitrate and about 8 kg of urea per acre.

VI. Pest and Disease Control

Wilt Disease

Symptoms: Commonly occurs in the middle and late stages of seedling cultivation. It primarily affects the base of the seedling stem or underground roots, initially manifesting as oval or irregular dark brown spots.

Affected seedlings wilt during the day and recover at night, with the diseased area gradually becoming concave and shriveled. Some gradually turn dark brown, and when the disease spot expands around the stem, the plant finally withers and dies, but does not fall over.

Mildly affected plants show only brown concave spots and do not wilt. When the seedbed is damp, the diseased part can display hardly noticeable light brown mycelium-like mold.

Control methods: In the early stages of the disease, spray with 800 times liquid of 38% Metalaxyl-Mancozeb, or 600 times liquid of 41% Polyoxin·Mancozeb; or 1200 times liquid of 20% Metalaxyl Phosphite, or 800 times liquid of 72.2% Previcur.

Spray once every 7-10 days. Or dilute General+Menshen with 600 times water, and water 3 liters per square meter before or after sowing and before planting.

At the time of planting or after planting and before the expected disease outbreak, dilute the product with 600 times water, irrigate the roots, and use the medication once every 7 days. The frequency of medication depends on the disease condition.

Leaf Spot Disease

Symptoms:

• Cockscomb Leaf Spot Disease (also known as Brown Spot Disease) affects leaves, petioles, and stems. Leaf spots are round, later expanding into irregular large spots, producing rings. The spots change from red-brown to dark brown, with a gray-brown center. Stem and petiole spots are brown and elongated.
• Geranium Leaf Spot Disease (also known as Black Spot Disease) produces small black-brown spots on the leaves, later expanding or merging into large irregular patches, with slightly raised edges. Small black spots scatter on both sides of the leaves.
• Clivia Leaf Spot Disease (Wilt Spot Disease) features oval, elongated light red-brown spots on the leaves, surrounded by a green circle, later expanding into irregular large patches. Black spots appear on the disease spots.

Control methods: In the early stages of the disease, spray with 20 ml of 4% Cytosine Arabinoside + 20 ml of 41% Polyoxin·Mancozeb, diluted with 15 kg of water. Use the medication once every 5-7 days, for a total of 2-3 times.

Sclerotinia Disease

Symptoms: It mainly affects stems, leaves, and fruits. The base of the stem infected initially shows water-stain-like spots, later expanding into light brown, causing soft rot or longitudinal cracks at the base of the stem, with a white cottony mycelium growing on the surface of the diseased part.

Leaf infection results in large grey to grey-brown wet rot spots on the leaves, with unclear boundaries between the diseased spots and the healthy parts. When the humidity is high, white mildew appears on the spot, eventually leading to leaf rot.

Fruit infection initially shows water-soaked spots, which later turn into wet rot, densely covered with white cottony mycelium. In the later stages of the disease, the surface of the diseased part displays varying amounts of black mouse-dropping-like sclerotia.

Control methods: In the middle and early stages of the disease, use 30 ml of 20% Prochloraz + 25 ml of Metalaxyl-Mancozeb, diluted with 15 kg of water. Use the medication once every 5-7 days, for a total of 2-3 times.

Diamondback Moth

The early-stage larvae of the diamondback moth burrow into the heart leaves of seedlings, spinning webs of silk. In mild cases, this affects the growth of the seedlings, while severe infestations can lead to seedling death and gaps in the row of plants.

Late-stage larvae not only gnaw on the heart leaves but can also bore into the stems and roots. They can also spread soft rot bacteria, leading to plant decay and death.

During peak hatching periods or when heart leaf damage and silk webs are first noticed, apply a 5% Imidacloprid emulsion diluted 4000 times, spraying 2-3 times, ensuring the pesticide reaches the heart of the plant.

Aphids

Aphids, a pest with a piercing-sucking mouthpart, often gather on leaves, tender stems, flower buds, and shoot tips. They suck sap, causing leaves to shrink, curl, and deform, and in severe cases, causing branches and leaves to wilt or the entire plant to die.

When the aphid count reaches 500 per 100 plants, or the damage to benefit ratio exceeds 1:500, apply 50 ml of 25% Aphid Mite Clear emulsion per acre, or spray with a 1500-2000 times dilution of Imidacloprid series products, 60-70 grams of 10% Aphid Net; 2500 times dilution of 20% Imidacloprid; 3000 times dilution of 25% Aphid Resistant emulsion.

In areas where wheat aphids have developed resistance to Imidacloprid and Dinotefuran, it is not advisable to use a single agent, but to reasonably mix and spray with low-toxicity organophosphorus pesticides.

VII. Primary Value

Medicinal Value

The trace selenium in Crown Daisy has the ability to regulate the immune system and inhibit liver, lung, and skin cancers. Crown Daisy is nutritious and refreshingly delicious, it can assist in the treatment of spleen and stomach disharmony, constipation, and excessive coughing.

It is especially suitable for growing children, teenagers, and elderly anemia patients. Consuming it in a cold salad in the summer can dispel heat and increase appetite.

Food, drinks, supplements, or drugs made from Crown Daisy can inhibit tumor metastasis and growth. Crown Daisy contains essential oils and choline, which are beneficial for excessive coughing, spleen and stomach disharmony, memory loss, and habitual constipation.

Crown Daisy can also be used to treat chronic gastroenteritis and habitual constipation.

Functions

• Crown Daisy can aid digestion, stimulate appetite, promote bowel movement, and benefit the lungs. The volatile oil that gives Crown Daisy its special aroma helps to facilitate digestion and increase appetite, and its crude fiber content assists with bowel movement, promoting defecation and the purpose of cleansing the intestines.
• Crown Daisy is rich in vitamins, carotenoids, and various amino acids. It has a sweet and neutral flavor, which can nourish the heart, calm the nerves, moisturize the lungs, nourish the liver, stabilize emotions, and prevent memory loss. In addition, the pleasant fragrance of Crown Daisy can help eliminate phlegm and alleviate depression.
• Crown Daisy contains a variety of amino acids, fats, proteins, and a high amount of sodium and potassium. It can regulate the body’s fluid metabolism, promote urination, and eliminate edema. Crown Daisy contains a volatile essential oil and choline, which can lower blood pressure and nourish the brain.

Economic Value

Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs

The extract of Tong Hao (Artemisia annua) shows excellent acaricidal activity. The root powder of this plant can reduce the reproductive ability of nematodes, and its essential oil discourages pests.

Artemisinin, extracted from Tong Hao, is an effective insecticide. The volatile oils from this plant have inhibitory activity against a variety of agricultural pathogens, with the main components being camphor (29.2%), α-pinene (14.8%), β-pinene (9.5%), and Lyraty1 acetate (9.8%).

The aerial parts can inhibit several harmful agricultural nematodes. Tong Hao and corn extracts have significantly higher attractiveness to carp than other extracts, making them suitable for the production of fish attractants.

Edible Value

Tong Hao is rich in vitamins and various amino acids, beneficial to heart health, calming the nerves, reducing blood pressure, and enhancing brain function.

Its special aromatic volatile oils help to promote digestion and appetite, although it is not recommended for those with diarrhea. Tong Hao has stomach-regulating and brain-enhancing effects.

Regular consumption is beneficial for those with cough, excessive phlegm, disharmony of the spleen and stomach, memory decline, and habitual constipation.

When Tong Hao is stir-fried with meat or eggs, it can enhance the absorption of Vitamin A. Lightly stir-fried Tong Hao, mixed with sesame oil, MSG, and fine salt, is delicious and suitable for people with coronary heart disease and high blood pressure.

Nutritional Components

Research shows that every 100g of young Crown Daisy leaves contains 25mg of Vitamin C. Every 100g edible portion includes 1.51mg of carotene, 252mg of Vitamin A, 220mg of potassium, and 161mg of sodium. Every 100g contains 0.8g protein, 0.3g fat, 0.3g sugars, and 3.4g of fiber.

• Calming and Brain Health
  The aromatic Crown Daisy is rich in vitamins, carotene, and various amino acids. It has the ability to calm the nerves, stabilize emotions, lower blood pressure, protect the brain, and prevent memory loss.
• Reducing Swelling and Promoting Urination
  Crown Daisy contains various amino acids, fats, proteins, and a high amount of sodium and potassium. It can regulate body fluid metabolism, eliminate edema, and promote urination.
• Clearing Lungs and Dissolving Phlegm
  The Crown Daisy is rich in Vitamin A, regular consumption can help resist respiratory infections and moisturize the lungs to dissolve phlegm. Its unique aromatic scent aids in clearing respiratory complications.
• Preventing Constipation
  The plentiful dietary fiber in Crown Daisy promotes intestinal motility, helps the body eliminate harmful toxins in a timely manner, thus preventing constipation.
• Stimulating Appetite
  Crown Daisy contains various volatile substances. Their unique aroma helps increase saliva secretion, thus stimulating appetite and aiding digestion.
• Beautifying Skin
  If you want beautiful skin, eat more Crown Daisy, as it can improve rough skin conditions.
• Heart Health
  Crown Daisy has four types of heart-strengthening medicinal ingredients. Its aroma is a unique medicinal component of Crown Daisy.
• Reducing Cholesterol
  Crown Daisy contains fresh and deep green pigments, chlorophyll, which has the ability to reduce cholesterol.

Cautions

Tong Hao has no side effects. It is also rich in potassium, which can excrete salt from the body, making it the best edible vegetable for people with high blood pressure.