Achillea millefolium

"Yarrow" redirects here. For other uses, see Yarrow (disambiguation).

"Devil's Plaything" redirects here. For the 1973 horror film, see The Devil's Plaything. For the Danzig song, see Danzig II: Lucifuge.

Achillea millefolium
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Achillea
Species:	A. millefolium
Binomial name
Achillea millefolium L.
Synonyms
Synonymy Achillea albida Willd. Achillea alpicola (Rydb.) Rydb. Achillea ambigua Boiss. Achillea ambigua Pollini Achillea anethifolia Fisch. ex Herder Achillea angustissima Rydb. Achillea arenicola A.Heller Achillea bicolor Wender. Achillea borealis Bong. Achillea californica Pollard Achillea ceretanica Sennen Achillea compacta Lam. Achillea coronopifolia Willd. Achillea crassifolia Colla Achillea cristata Hort. ex DC. Achillea dentifera Rchb. Achillea eradiata Piper Achillea fusca Rydb. Achillea gigantea Pollard Achillea gracilis Raf. Achillea haenkeana Tausch Achillea intermedia Schleich. Achillea lanata Lam. Achillea lanulosa Nutt. Achillea laxiflora A.Nelson Achillea laxiflora Pollard & Cockerell Achillea magna All. Achillea magna L. Achillea magna Haenke Achillea marginata Turcz. ex Ledeb. Achillea nabelekii Heimerl Achillea occidentalis (DC.) Raf. ex Rydb. Achillea ochroleuca Eichw. Achillea ossica K.Koch Achillea pacifica Rydb. Achillea palmeri Rydb. Achillea pecten-veneris Pollard Achillea pratensis Saukel & R.Länger Achillea pseudo-tanacetifolia Wierzb. ex Rchb. Achillea puberula Rydb. Achillea pumila Schur Achillea rosea Desf. Achillea setacea Schwein. 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.

The plant is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Asia, Europe, and North America. It has been introduced as a feed for livestock in New Zealand and Australia. Used by some animals, the plant may have somewhat toxic properties, although historically it has been employed for medicinal purposes.

Description

Petiolate leaves on lower stems

Illustration from Köhler's Medicinal Plants (1887–1898)

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, the leaves appear spirally and evenly along the stem, with the largest and most petiolate towards the base; they are 5–20 centimetres (2–8 in) long and fernlike, divided bipinnately or tripinnately.

The inflorescence has 4 to 9 phyllaries and contains ray and disk flowers which are white to pink, blooming from March to October. There are generally 3 to 8 ray flowers, which are 3 millimetres (1⁄8 in) long and ovate to round. The tiny disk flowers range from 10 to 40. The inflorescence is produced in a flat-topped capitulum cluster and the inflorescences are visited by many insects, featuring a generalized pollination system. The small achene-like fruits are called cypsela.

The plant has a sweet scent similar to that of chrysanthemums, so powerful that it may be irritating to some.

Chemistry

The dark blue essential oil of yarrow contains chemicals called proazulenes.

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.

Yarrow contains isovaleric acid, salicylic acid, asparagine, sterols, and flavonoids. It also contains phenolic acids such as gallic acid, 3, 4-dihydroxy benzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, sinapic acid, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid and flavonoid such as myricetin, hesperidin, quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, apigenin, rutin, hyperoside.

Taxonomy

Subdivision

The several varieties and subspecies include:

• Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium
  • A. m. subsp. m. var. millefolium – Europe, Asia
  • A. m. subsp. m. var. borealis – Arctic regions
  • A. m. subsp. m. var. rubra – Southern Appalachians
• A. millefolium subsp. chitralensis – western Himalaya
• A. millefolium subsp. sudetica – Alps, Carpathians
• Achillea millefolium var. alpicola – Western United States, Alaska
• Achillea millefolium var. californica – California, Pacific Northwest
• Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis – North America
• Achillea millefolium var. pacifica – west coast of North America, Alaska
• Achillea millefolium var. puberula – endemic to California

Etymology

The genus name Achillea is derived from mythical Greek character Achilles, who reportedly carried it with his army to treat battle wounds. The specific epithet millefolium comes from the featherlike leaves which are minutely divided.

Distribution and habitat

Yarrow is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Wenatchee Foothills, Chelan County, Washington

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.

In North America, both native and introduced genotypes, and both diploid and polyploid plants are found. It is found in every habitat throughout California except the Colorado and Mojave Deserts. 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).

It has been introduced as a feed for livestock in New Zealand and Australia, where it is a common weed of both wet and dry areas, such as roadsides, meadows, fields and coastal places.

Ecology

Pollination by Eristalis arbustorum

Birds

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.

Insects

Achillea millefolium is a food source for many species of insects, although is not particularly attractive to ladybirds.

Moths

The larvae of the moths Bucculatrix clavenae, B. cristatella, B. fatigatella, B. humiliella, B. latviaella, Cnephasia abrasana, Cochylimorpha elongana, Coleophora argentula, C. carelica, C. ditella, C. expressella, C. follicularis, C. gardesanella, C. millefolii, C. partitella, C. ptarmicia, C. quadristraminella, C. succursella, C. vibicigerella, Depressaria olerella, D. silesiaca, Dichrorampha alpinana (broad-blotch drill), D. petiverella, D. vancouverana (tanacetum root moth), Eupithecia millefoliata (yarrow pug), E. nanata (narrow-winged pug), Gillmeria pallidactyla, Idaea pallidata, Isidiella nickerlii, Loxostege manualis, Phycitodes maritima, P. saxicola, Pyncostola bohemiella, Sophronia sicariellus and Thetidia smaragdaria (Essex emerald) feed on Achillea millefolium in Europe.
The larvae of Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria (blackberry looper), Coleophora quadruplex and Sparganothoides lentiginosana (lentiginos moth) feed on A. millefolium in North America.
Other species of moths with a more cosmopolitan distribution include Aethes smeathmanniana (Smeathmann's aethes moth), Chloroclystis v-ata (v-pug), Choristoneura diversana, Cochylidia richteriana, Epiblema graphana, Eupithecia succenturiata (bordered pug), E. vulgata (common pug), Jordanita budensis and Thiodia citrana (lemon bell). The Noctuid Agrotis stigmosa has also been reared on A. millefolium.

Beetles

Cassida denticollis, Galeruca tanaceti, Hypocassida subferruginea and Phytoecia virgula are cosmopolitan species of beetles that feed on A. millefolium.
Chrysanthia viridissima is a European species whose adults can be found feeding on pollen and nectar.
Trichodes ornatus (ornate checkered beetle) is a species found in North America whose adults can be found feeding on A. millefolium.

True bugs

Horistus orientalis is a species of plant bugs that feeds on A. millefolium.

Wasps

Hedychrum rutilans is a species of cuckoo wasps whose adults can be found feeding on A. millefolium in Europe and North Africa.

Galls

Aceria kiefferi (Nalepa, 1891) is a mite that deforms flowers and leaves. external link to gallformers

Cultivation

A. millefolium 'Paprika' cultivar

A. millefolium cultivar

Achillea millefolium is cultivated as an ornamental plant by many plant nurseries. It is planted in gardens and natural landscaping settings of diverse climates and styles. They include native plant, drought-tolerant, and wildlife gardens. The plant is a frequent component of butterfly gardens. The plant prefers well-drained soil in full sun, but can be grown in less ideal conditions.

Propagation

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.

Cultivars

The species use in traditional gardens has generally been superseded by cultivars with specific 'improved' qualities. Some are used as drought-tolerant lawns, with periodic mowing. The many different ornamental cultivars include: 'Paprika', 'Cerise Queen', 'Red Beauty', 'Red Velvet', 'Saucy Seduction', 'Strawberry Seduction' (red), 'Island Pink' (pink), 'Calistoga' (white), and 'Sonoma Coast' (white). The following are recipients of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

• 'Credo'
• 'Lachsschönheit' (Galaxy Series)
• 'Martina'
• 'Lansdorferglut'

The many hybrids of this species designated Achillea × taygetea are useful garden subjects, including: 'Appleblossom', 'Fanal', 'Hoffnung', and 'Moonshine'.

Toxicity

See also: List of herbs with known adverse effects

Yarrow can cause allergic skin rashes. It reportedly can induce menstruation and cause miscarriages.

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. When consumed by cows, an unfavorable flavor is given to their milk. In a standard rodent model for reproductive toxicity, aqueous extracts of yarrow produced a significant increase in the percentage of abnormal sperm.

Uses

Further information: Yarrow oil

Essential oil

Yarrow can produce a dense mat of soft leaves.

Traditional medicine

See also: List of plants in The English Physitian

A. millefolium was used in traditional medicine, in part due to its astringent properties and the mild laxative effect of its leaves. 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. Yarrow and its North American varieties were traditionally used by many Native American nations. 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. Native American nations used the plant for healing cuts and abrasions, relief from earaches and throat infections, as well as for an eyewash. Common yarrow was used by Plains indigenous peoples to reduce pain or fever and aid sleep.

In the early 20th century, some Ojibwe people used a decoction of yarrow leaves on hot stones and inhaled it to treat headaches, or applied decoctions of the root onto skin for its stimulating effect.

Food

The entire plant is reportedly edible and nutritious, but it is advised not to consume much. The foliage is pungent; both its leaves and flowers are bitter and astringent. The leaves can be eaten young; raw, they can be added to salad. The leaves, with an aniseed-grass flavour, can be brewed as tea.

In the Middle Ages, yarrow was part of a herbal mixture known as gruit used in the flavoring of beer prior to the use of hops. The flowers and leaves are used in making some liquors and bitters.

Other uses

Yarrow is used as a companion plant, attracting some beneficial insects and repelling some pests.

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. 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.

Some pick-up sticks are made of yarrow.

Yarrow can be used for dying wool as it contains apigenin and luteolin. Depending on the mordant the color may be green to yellow.

Culture

Yarrow has been found with Neanderthal burials, suggesting its association with human species dates to at least 60,000 years ago.

China

A bunch of 50 yarrow A. millefolium subsp. millefolium var. millefolium stalks, used for I Ching divination

Yarrow and tortoiseshell are considered to be lucky in Chinese tradition.

The stalks are dried and used as a randomising agent in I Ching divination.

Western world

In antiquity, the plant was known as herba militaris for its use in stanching the flow of blood from wounds. 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. The genus name Achillea is inspired by the alleged use of the herb by Achilles to treat his soldiers' wounds. 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. Its use in either starting or stopping nosebleeds led to the common name nosebleed.

The English name yarrow comes from its Saxon (Old English) name gearwe, which is related to both the Dutch word gerw (alternately yerw) and the Old High German word garawa. In the eastern counties it may be called yarroway. 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.

In the Hebrides, a leaf held against the eyes was sometimes believed to give second sight. 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. For its association with the Abrahamic devil it was called bad man's plaything, devil's nettle, and devil's plaything. 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". This is apparently a corruption of the Achilles myth in which Jesus uses the plant to heal his adoptive father. For this reason, in France, it was called 'herbe de St. Joseph', and it has also been called 'carpenter's weed' in this regard.

Various other common names include arrowroot, death flower, eerie, hundred-leaved grass, knyghten, old man's mustard, sanguinary, seven-year's love, snake's grass, and soldier. The names milfoil and thousand leaf come refer to the minutely divided leaves. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Gallery

• 
  Leaves
• 
  Close-up of leaf
• 
  Budding flowers
• 
  Flowers at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
• 
  Flower by a pond, United Kingdom
• 
  Field of yarrow in Russia
• 
  Flowers in Chelan County, Washington
• 
  Close-up of flowers
• 
  Extreme close-up of flowers
• 
  Dry flowers with Hemiptera
• 
  Achenes

External links

• Kansas Wildflowers – Achillea millefolium
• Dr. Duke's Databases: Achillea millefolium
• Winter identification photographs
• Achillea millefolium L. Medicinal Plant Images Database (School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University) (in Chinese) (in English)