The common English names for wild and garden flowers often derive from their appearance, for example cranesbill, which has a fruit capsule reminiscent of a crane's bill. Quite a few others, particularly herbs, medicinal or therapeutic plants, have names that reference their useful qualities. Today's photograph shows one such example. The Latin name for this daisy-like flower is Erigeron but in England it is widely known as Fleabane. It is a somewhat unnatractive name for such a charming and delicate flower and is thought to come from the belief that when dried it repelled fleas. I wouldn't like to test that theory.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10
