Daphne cneorum, the garland flower or rose daphne, is a species of flowering plant in the family Thymelaeaceae, commonly found in various pine forests across Europe.^[2][3] It is a prostrate spreading evergreen shrub to 20 cm (8 in), grown for its dense clusters of highly fragrant pink flowers in spring.^[4][5][6] All parts of the plant are poisonous to humans.^[7] Two common diseases are known as daphne sudden death syndrome and daphne virus X.^[2][8][9]

Quick Facts Daphne cneorum, Scientific classification ...

Daphne cneorum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Thymelaeaceae
Genus:	Daphne
Species:	D. cneorum
Binomial name
Daphne cneorum L.[1]
Synonyms[1]
Daphne bellojocensis Gand. Daphne delphini Lavallée Daphne juliae Koso-Pol. Daphne odorata Lam. Daphne prostrata Salisb. Daphne rhodanica Gand. Daphne verlotii Gren. & Godr. Laureola cneorum (L.) Samp. Thymelaea cneorum (L.) Scop. Thymelaea odorata Bubani

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The Latin specific epithet cneorum comes from Greek origins and means “like a small olive bush”.^[10]

In the Boreal age, Daphne cneorum was predominantly found in pine forests, alongside other species such as Galium boreale and Rubus saxatilis.^[11] In more recent ages, this species is native to the mountains of central and southern Europe, including an area known as the Châtillonnais region and several parts of Ukraine.^[11][3] Within these regions, Daphne cneorum is commonly found in pine forest, oak-pine forest, and beech-pine forest habitats.^[3] Other species found in these habitats include Vaccinium myrtillus, Lycopodium annotinum, Pteridium aquilinum, Maianthemum bifolium and Trientalis europaea.^[3] Daphne cneorum is typically found in well-lit patches of rocky soil, the foundation of which is generally carbonate rock.^[12][3]

In plant nurseries rose daphnes can be affected by various diseases. One of them is caused by the fungus Thielaviopsis basicola and is commonly known as daphne sudden death syndrome (DSDS).^[2] In this disease, dark colored lesions grow along the roots, soon followed by discoloration of leaves, stunted growth, fainting, and then in the two weeks after developing foliar symptoms, death.^[8][2]

One of the more common viruses affecting daphne cneorum, and other species of the genus daphne, is daphne virus X.^[9] It was discovered that in-vitro daphne cneorum cultures can be used as a growing medium to detect if other plants are infected with the disease.^[9] This allows for faster identification of diseased plants, thus allowing for prevention of the spread to other plants within nurseries, gardens, etc.^[9]