Achillea sordida (W.D.J.Koch) Dalla Torre & Sarnth.
Achillea subalpina Greene
Achillea submillefolium Klokov & Krytzka
Achillea sylvatica Becker
Achillea tanacetifolia Mill.
Achillea tenuifolia Salisb.
Achillea tenuis Schur
Achillea tomentosa Pursh 1813 not L. 1753
Achillea virgata Hort. ex DC.
Achillios millefoliatus St.-Lag.
Alitubus millefolium (L.) Dulac
Alitubus tomentosus Dulac
Chamaemelum millefolium (L.) E.H.L.Krause
Chamaemelum tanacetifolium (All.) E.H.L.Krause
Chamaemelum tomentosum (L.) E.H.L.Krause
plus many more names for subspecies, forms, and varieties
Achillea millefolium, commonly known as yarrow (/ˈjæroʊ/) or common yarrow, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Growing to 1 metre (3+1⁄2 feet) tall, it is characterized by small whitish flowers, a tall stem of fernlike leaves, and a pungent odor.
Achillea millefolium is an erect, herbaceous, perennial plant that produces one to several stems 0.2–1 metre (8–40 inches) in height, and has a spreading rhizomatous growth form. Cauline and more or less clasping,[2] the leaves appear spirally and evenly along the stem, with the largest and most petiolate towards the base;[3] they are 5–20 centimetres (2–8 in) long and fernlike, divided bipinnately or tripinnately.[4]
The inflorescence has 4 to 9 phyllaries and contains ray and disk flowers which are white to pink, blooming from March to October.[5] There are generally 3 to 8 ray flowers, which are 3 millimetres (1⁄8 in) long[5] and ovate to round. The tiny disk flowers range from 10 to 40.[5] The inflorescence is produced in a flat-topped capitulum cluster and the inflorescences are visited by many insects, featuring a generalized pollination system.[6] The small achene-like fruits are called cypsela.[2]
The plant has a sweet scent similar to that of chrysanthemums,[7] so powerful that it may be irritating to some.[5]
Chamazulene and δ-Cadinol are chemical compounds found in A. millefolium. The chromophore of azulene was discovered in yarrow and wormwood and named in 1863 by Septimus Piesse.
Achillea millefolium var. alpicola – Western United States, Alaska[11]
Achillea millefolium var. californica – California, Pacific Northwest[12][13][14]
Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis – North America[15]
Achillea millefolium var. pacifica – west coast of North America, Alaska[16]
Achillea millefolium var. puberula – endemic to California[17]
Etymology
The genus name Achillea is derived from mythical Greek character Achilles, who reportedly carried it with his army to treat battle wounds.[18] The specific epithetmillefolium comes from the featherlike leaves which are minutely divided.[18]
The plant grows from sea level to 3,500 m (11,500 ft) in elevation. Common yarrow is frequently found in the mildly disturbed soil of grasslands and open forests. Active growth occurs in the spring.[7][2]
In North America, both native and introduced genotypes, and both diploid and polyploid plants are found.[19] It is found in every habitat throughout California except the Colorado and Mojave Deserts.[20][21] Common yarrow produces an average yield of 110,000 plants per hectare (43,000/acre), with a total dry weight of 11,800 kg/ha (10,500 pounds per acre).[22]
It has been introduced as a feed for livestock in New Zealand[23] and Australia, where it is a common weed of both wet and dry areas, such as roadsides, meadows, fields and coastal places.[23]
Several cavity-nesting birds, including the common starling, use yarrow to line their nests. Experiments conducted on the tree swallow, which does not use yarrow, suggest that adding yarrow to nests inhibits the growth of parasites.[24]
Insects
Achillea millefolium is a food source for many species of insects, although is not particularly attractive to ladybirds.[25]
For propagation, seeds require light for germination, so optimal germination occurs when planted no deeper than 6 mm (1⁄4 in). Seeds also require a germination temperature of 18–24 °C (64–75 °F). It has a relatively short life in some situations, but may be prolonged by division in the spring every other year, and planting 30 to 46 cm (12–18 in) apart. It can become invasive.[30]
Cultivars
The species use in traditional gardens has generally been superseded by cultivars with specific 'improved' qualities.[31] Some are used as drought-tolerant lawns, with periodic mowing.[32][33][34][35] The many different ornamental cultivars include: 'Paprika',[36] 'Cerise Queen', 'Red Beauty',[37] 'Red Velvet',[38] 'Saucy Seduction', 'Strawberry Seduction' (red), 'Island Pink' (pink),[39] 'Calistoga' (white),[40] and 'Sonoma Coast' (white).[41] The following are recipients of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:
The many hybrids of this species designated Achillea × taygetea are useful garden subjects,[46] including: 'Appleblossom', 'Fanal', 'Hoffnung', and 'Moonshine'.[47]
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, yarrow is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses, causing increased urination, vomiting, diarrhea and dermatitis.[50]
When consumed by cows, an unfavorable flavor is given to their milk.[51] In a standard rodent model for reproductive toxicity, aqueous extracts of yarrow produced a significant increase in the percentage of abnormal sperm.[52]
A. millefolium was used in traditional medicine, in part due to its astringent properties and the mild laxative effect of its leaves.[53][54] It has been used since ancient times to heal wounds and stop bleeding, and in the sixteenth century the crushed leaves were used to stop nosebleeds.[55] Yarrow and its North American varieties were traditionally used by many Native American nations.[56] The Navajo historically considered it a "life medicine" and chewed the plant for toothaches and used its infusions for earaches. The Miwok in California used the plant as an analgesic and head cold remedy.[56] Native American nations used the plant for healing cuts and abrasions, relief from earaches and throat infections, as well as for an eyewash.[57] Common yarrow was used by Plains indigenous peoples to reduce pain or fever and aid sleep.[56]
In the early 20th century, some Ojibwe people used a decoction of yarrow leaves on hot stones and inhaled it to treat headaches,[58] or applied decoctions of the root onto skin for its stimulating effect.[59]
Food
The entire plant is reportedly edible and nutritious,[49] but it is advised not to consume much.[60] The foliage is pungent; both its leaves and flowers are bitter and astringent.[53] The leaves can be eaten young; raw, they can be added to salad.[60] The leaves, with an aniseed-grass flavour, can be brewed as tea.[61]
A. millefolium can be planted to combat soil erosion due to the plant's resistance to drought. Before the arrival of monocultures of ryegrass, both grass and pasture contained A. millefolium at a density of about 0.3 kg/ha.[citation needed] One factor for its use in grass mixtures was its deep roots, with leaves rich in minerals, minimizing mineral deficiencies in ruminant feed. It was introduced into New Zealand as a drought-tolerant pasture.[23]
In antiquity, the plant was known as herba militaris for its use in stanching the flow of blood from wounds.[67] In the Classical Greek epic Iliad, Homer tells of the centaur Chiron, who conveyed herbal secrets to his human pupils and taught Achilles to use yarrow on the battlegrounds of Troy.[68] The genus name Achillea is inspired by the alleged use of the herb by Achilles to treat his soldiers' wounds.[55] Other names implying the plant's historical use in healing—particularly in the military—include bloodwort, knight's milfoil, staunchweed, and, from its use in the United States Civil War, soldier's woundwort.[18] Its use in either starting or stopping nosebleeds led to the common name nosebleed.[53][69]
The English name yarrow comes from its Saxon (Old English) name gearwe, which is related to both the Dutch word gerw (alternately yerw)[53] and the Old High German word garawa.[70] In the eastern counties[clarification needed] it may be called yarroway.[53] It was called old man's pepper due to its pungent flavor, while the name field hop came from its use in beer making in Sweden.[53]
In the Hebrides, a leaf held against the eyes was sometimes believed to give second sight.[71] In the witchcraft trial of Elspeth Reoch in March 1616, she was alleged to have plucked "melefour", thought to be another name for yarrow, and said "In nomine Patris, Fiili, et Spiritus Sancti" to become able to cure distemper (disorders of the four humours) and impart the faculty of prediction.[69] For its association with the Abrahamicdevil it was called bad man's plaything, devil's nettle, and devil's plaything.[53] Yarrow was thought to bring luck due to being, according to one woman cited by James Britten (c. 1878), "the first herb our Saviour put in His hand when a child".[69] This is apparently a corruption of the Achilles myth[72] in which Jesus uses the plant to heal his adoptive father. For this reason, in France, it was called 'herbe deSt. Joseph', and it has also been called 'carpenter's weed' in this regard.[72][53]
Various other common names include arrowroot, death flower, eerie, hundred-leaved grass, knyghten, old man's mustard, sanguinary,[53]seven-year's love, snake's grass, and soldier. The names milfoil and thousand leaf come refer to the minutely divided leaves.[18] In Spanish, it is known as gordaldo and, in New Mexico and southern Colorado, plumajillo (Spanish for 'little feather').
In Sussex and Devonshire superstition, yarrow was used for finding one's real sweetheart. One would pluck yarrow growing on a young man's grave while reciting:
Yarrow, sweet yarrow, the first that I have found, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pluck it from the ground; As Joseph loved sweet Mary, and took her for his dear, so in a dream this night, I hope, my true love will appear.
and go to sleep with the yarrow under the pillow.[69]
In a similar tradition in Wicklow, girls would pick yarrow on Hallow Eve and recite:
Thou pretty herb of Venus' tree, Thy true name is yarrow; Now who my bosom friend may be, Pray tell thou me to-morrow.
then retire for the night without speaking and go to sleep with an ounce of yarrow sewn in flannel under the pillow.[69]
In Suffolk a leaf was placed in the nose so it would bleed, while reciting
Green 'arrow, green 'arrow, you bears a white blow, If my love love me, my nose will bleed now; If my love don't love me, it 'on't bleed a drop, If my love do love me, 'twill bleed every drop.[69]
In Dublin on May Day or the night before, women would place a stocking full of yarrow under their pillow and recite:
Good morrow, good yarrow, good morrow to thee, I hope by the yarrow my lover to see; And that he may be married to me. The colour of his hair and the clothes he does wear, And if he be for me may his face be turned to me, And if he be not, dark and surely may he be, And his back be turned toward me.[69]
^Shutler D, Campbell AA (2007). "Experimental addition of greenery reduces flea loads in nests of a non-greenery using species, the tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor". Journal of Avian Biology. 38 (1): 7–12. doi:10.1111/j.2007.0908-8857.04015.x.
^Hausbn, B. M.; Bheuer, J.; Weglewski, J.; Rucker, G. (1991). "α-Peroxyachifolid and other new sensitizing sesquiterpene lactones from yarrow (Achillea millefolium L., Compositae)". Contact Dermatitis. 24 (4): 274–280. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0536.1991.tb01722.x. ISSN0105-1873. PMID1868717. S2CID24643321.
^Faran, Mina; Tcherni, Anna (1997). Medicinal herbs in Modern Medicine (ṣimḥei marpé bir'fū'ah ha-modernīt) (in Hebrew). Vol. 1. Jerusalem: Akademon (Hebrew University of Jerusalem). p. 242. ISBN965-350-068-6. OCLC233179155., s.v. Achillea millefolium
^Densmore, Frances, 1928, Uses of Plants by the Chippewa Indians, SI-BAE Annual Report #44:273–379, page 336
^Densmore, Frances, 1928, Uses of Plants by the Chippewa Indians, SI-BAE Annual Report #44:273–379, p. 350
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