Achillea millefolium

Achillea millefolium

Achillea millefolium, or common yarrow, is a herbaceous flowering plant in the Asteracae family. Sometimes also called western yarrow, millefoil, bloodwort, carpenter's weed, plumajillo, and hierba de las cortaduras.

Synonyms:

• Achillea borealis
• Achillea lanulosa Nutt. var. eradiata
• Achillea lanulosa Nutt. var. lanulosa
• Achillea millefolium L. ssp. lanulosa
• Achillea millefolium L. var. alpicola
• Achillea millefolium L. var. borealis
• Achillea millefolium L. var. californica
• Achillea millefolium L. var. lanulosa
• Achillea millefolium L. var. litoralis
• Achillea millefolium L. var. millefolium
• Achillea millefolium L. var. occidentalis
• Achillea millefolium L. var. pacifica
  

Taxonomy

• Kingdom Plantae – Plants
  
• Subkingdom Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
  
• Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants
  
• Division Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
  
• Class Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
  
• Subclass - Asteridae
  
• Order - Asterales
  
• Family Asteraceae – Aster family
  
• Genus Achillea L. – yarrow
  
• Species Achillea millefolium L. – common yarrow

Description

Herbaceous perennial growing from rhizomes, from one to several stems up to heights of 8 to 16 inches. Tripinnate and lance-shaped leaves evenly distributed along stem with the leaves becoming smaller towards the top. Leaves typically between 1/4 inch to 1 1/4 inch wide and 1 1/4 inch long to 6 inches long. Flat-topped flower heads (inflorescence) containing 10-20 whitish to yellowish flowers.

Bloom Period

April-October

Distribution

"Widespread throughout North America"

Habitat

Common in open dry to moist areas from high to low elevations; drought tolerant

Uses

Several tribes of the Plains region of the United States including the Pawnee and Chippewa tribes used common yarrow. The Pawnee used the stalk in a treatment for pain relief. The Chippewa used the leaves in a steam inhalant for headaches. They also chewed the roots and applied the saliva to their appendages as a stimulant. The Cherokee drank a tea of common yarrow to reduce fever and aid in restful sleep.

Propagation

Clean seeds with hammer mill then air screen cleaner. Sow in field between May or June and September. Plant 50-70 seeds per foot 1/2" deep or less spaced in 3" rows.

Seed

Achillea millefolium

Abbreviation: ACMI

Seed sample from: 2011

Average Measurement: 1.9 x 0.6 x 0.3

Measurement Range: L: 1.6 - 2.1, W: 0.5 - 1, D: 0.2 - 0.5

Features

Shape: Seed narrowly winged at margins, thicker in the middle. Seed face is narrower at hilum end, broadening at opposite side.

Color: Seed coat papery and white, becoming transparent at the center to reveal a red-brown inner seed.

Surface: Finely longitudinally ridged.

Latitudinal Cross Section: elliptical

Longitudinal Cross Section: obovate

Photo Gallery

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Basic Explanations and Assumptions:

The dimensions for the seeds are length x width x depth. The location of the hilum is used as the base of the seed, and the length is measured from hilum to the opposite apex. Where a style is present, the length is measured from the hilum to the bottom of the style. Width is measured at a right angle to the length at the widest part. Depth is measured at a right angle to the intersection of height and width lines.

Measurements included are the mean average for each measurement of ten separate seeds.

All measurements in millimeters unless otherwise noted.