Glebionis is a small genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae (order Asterales), native to Europe and the Mediterranean region. The genus contains two accepted species: Glebionis coronaria (crown daisy), found across central and southern Europe, and Glebionis segetum (corn marigold), distributed throughout northern, central, and southern Europe.
The species were long treated as members of Chrysanthemum, the large and economically important genus of daisy-family composites. A 1999 ruling by the International Botanical Congress resolved a long-standing nomenclatural conflict by redefining the type species of Chrysanthemum as the florist's chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum and allied cultivated forms), which had the effect of excluding the corn marigold, crown daisy, and their relatives. These were subsequently placed in Glebionis and related segregate genera.
Glebionis species bear the characteristic flower heads of the daisy tribe, typically with yellow ray florets and a yellow disc, and are annual or short-lived plants of disturbed ground, arable fields, and Mediterranean scrub. The genus has horticultural relevance beyond its own species: Glebionis has been hybridized with the related genus Argyranthemum to produce garden marguerite cultivars prized for their long-flowering habit.
Etymology
The name Glebionis derives from Latin gleba (clod of earth, soil, arable land), alluding to the weedy, field-dwelling habit of the corn marigold (G. segetum), which was historically a common weed of grain crops across Europe.
Distribution
Glebionis is native to Europe and the Mediterranean region. Glebionis coronaria (crown daisy) occurs in central and southern Europe, while Glebionis segetum (corn marigold) is distributed across northern, central, and southern Europe, where it has long been associated with arable farmland.
Cultivation
Both species are grown as ornamentals and edible plants in gardens. Glebionis coronaria (shungiku) is widely cultivated in East Asia as a leaf vegetable and is valued in Western gardens for its bright yellow-and-white flowers. Glebionis has been hybridized with Argyranthemum to produce long-flowering garden marguerite cultivars.
Taxonomy Notes
The species of Glebionis were traditionally included in Chrysanthemum. A 1999 ruling of the International Botanical Congress redefined the type species of Chrysanthemum as the florist's chrysanthemum, excluding the corn marigold and crown daisy, which were moved to Glebionis. The tricolor daisy, formerly called Glebionis carinata, is now placed in Ismelia.
