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Achillea millefolium

(Bloodwort)

Overview

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Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Arabic:

Om alf waraka (Egypt)

Common Names in Croatian:

Armanj, Bo, Hajducka trava, Hrb, Jezicec, Jutrocel, Kacak, Ko, Koromacic, Kostenica, Kostre, Kostret, Kostretica, Kunja opa, Malankovica, Mali stozlat, Meku, Mesecina, Mrmanj, Mrmonj, Paprac, Puranski jezicec, Rebrac, Reza, Rman, Rmanac, Spor, Spori, Sporic-stolistak, Stoli, Stolika, Stoliska, Stolist, Stolista, Stolistac, Stolistak, Tucija trava, Vodeni spori

Common Names in Danish:

Almindelig r, Finbladet r, Soldaterurt

Common Names in Dutch:

Duizendblad

Common Names in English:

Bloodwort, Carpenter´s weed, Carpenter's Weed, Common Yarrow, Dwarf Yarrow, Giant Yarrow, Hierba De Las Cortaduras, Milfoil, Mountain Yarrow, Northern Yarrow, Nosebleed, Plumajillo, Sanguinary, Soldier´s woundwort, Soldiers Woundwort, Staunchweed, Thousand leaf, Thousand seal, Thousand weed, Thousandleaf, Western Yarrow, Woolly Yarrow, Woundwort, Yarrow, Yarrow (Common), Yarrow bloodwort, Yarrow milfoil

Common Names in Finnish:

Aivastusjuuri, Akantupakki, Siank

Common Names in French:

Achill, Achillée Mille-Feuille, Herbe , Herbe aux coupures, Herbe aux militaires, Herbe de St-Jean, Herbe des charpentiers, Mille-Feuille, Millefeuille

Common Names in German:

Gemeine Schafgarbe, Gew, Schafgarbe, Tausendblatt, Wiesen-Schafgarb

Common Names in Hungarian:

Eg

Common Names in Italian:

Millefoglie, Millefoglio

Common Names in Japanese:

Seiyou no kogirisou, Yaroo

Common Names in Norwegian:

Ryllik, Vanlig Ryllik

Common Names in Polish:

Krwawnik pospolity

Common Names in Portuguese:

Aquil, Espuma-do-mar, Mil-em-rama, Mil-folhas, Milef, Milefólio

Common Names in Russian:

Tysjacelistnik obyknovennyj

Common Names in Serbian:

Ajducica, Ajducka trava, Aspra, Beli ravanj, Belo ivansko cvece, Hajducica, Hajducka trava, Jalova mesecina, Jalovi mesecnjak, Jalovo mesecje, Krvavac, Kucja trava, Kunica, Kunji rep, Ljutica, Mesecina, Moracika, Paprac, Petrovsko cvece, Ravan, Ravanj, Ravunika, Spor, Spori, Stolisnik, Stolistnik, Tintorova trava

Common Names in Slovenian:

Arman, Armanc, Erman, Grenki rman, Hrman, Jermanec, Kacek, Kacjek, karucelj, Korancelj, Korocelj, krokotec, krokotovec, Mezinec, Mezinic, Rmanc, Runica, Skorejca, Zavrelec, Zevrelcec

Common Names in Spanish:

Alcanfor (Mexico), Ciento en rama (Mexico), Mil hojas (Argentina), Milefolio, Milenrama, Milhojas

Common Names in Swedish:

Rölleka, Röllika

Description

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Family Compositae

The largest family of flowering plants , the Compositae (Asteraceae), comprising about 1,100 genera and more than 20,000 species and characterized by many small flowers arranged in a head looking like a single flower and subtended by an involucre of bracts. A head may consist of both ray flowers and disk flowers, as in the sunflower, of disk flowers only, as in the burdock, or of ray flowers only, as in the dandelion.

Genus Achillea

Perennials [subshrubs ], 6-80 cm (usually rhizomatous , sometimes fibrous rooted or taprooted; usually aromatic ). Stems 1(-4+, clustered), usually erect , branched mostly distally, glabrous or sparsely to densely lanate (hairs usually basifixed ). Leaves basal (often withering before flowering) and cauline; alternate; petiolate or sessile (bases ± clasping ) ; blades (cauline equaling basal or slightly smaller distally) linear to oblong-lanceolate, usually 1-2[-4]-pinnately lobed , ultimate margins entire, abaxial faces sparsely to densely lanate, adaxial faces glabrate to sparsely tomentose . Heads radiate [discoid ], in compact to open (± flat-topped), simple or compound , corymbiform arrays [borne singly]. Involucres campanulate to hemispheric , mostly 2-3(-5+) mm diam. Phyllaries persistent , 10-30 in (1-) 2-3(-4) series, oblong , ovate , or oblanceolate to lanceolate (midribs conspicuous ), unequal, margins and apices (pale to black) scarious . Receptacles usually flat to slightly convex , rarely conic, paleate; paleae membranous, ± folded (sometimes each with central resin duct ). Ray florets [0] 3-5(-12+), usually pistillate and fertile ; corollas usually white (laminae yellow at bases), sometimes pale yellow to pink or purple (tubes ± flattened), laminae orbiculate to suborbiculate (becoming reflexed ). Disc florets usually (5-) 15-75+, rarely 0, bisexual , fertile; corollas white to grayish or yellowish [yellow, pink], tubes ± flattened (bases ± saccate , clasping apices of cypselae), throats ± campanulate, lobes 5, ± deltate. Cypselae obcompressed , oblong to obovate (margins sometimes winged , apices rounded) ; ribs usually 2, lateral (sometimes plus 1 adaxial), faces glabrous (pericarps with myxogenic cells , sometimes with resin sacs; embryo sac development monosporic). x = 9.

Species ca. 115: subtropic to temperate and arctic regions of North America and Eurasia .

Centers of diversity for Achillea are in Europe and Asia. Achillea ageratum, A. distans, and A. ligustica have been reported as occurring in North America. Labels on herbarium specimens examined indicated that those reports were based on cultivated plants ; there is no evidence that any of the three has become established in our flora . Achillea filipendulina may be persistent or established in California (F. Hrusa et al. 2002) and in Michigan (E. Voss 1972-1996, vol. 3).

Achillea includes aromatic herbs with diverse vegetative morphologies. Floral characters show much less variation . Some species are widely cultivated both in Eurasia and North America. Interspecific hybridization has made identifications difficult and has evidently contributed to long lists of synonyms for some species.

Plants of Achillea contain secondary metabolites with purported therapeutic and pharmacologic uses. Native Americans used the plants to treat earaches, diarrhea , and hemorrhages.[1]

Physical Description

Species Achillea millefolium

Perennials , 6-65+ cm (usually rhizomatous , sometimes stoloniferous ). Stems 1(-4), erect , simple or branched, densely lanate-tomentose to glabrate . Leaves petiolate (proximally) or sessile (distally, weakly clasping and gradually reduced) ; blades oblong or lanceolate, 3.5-35+ cm × 5-35 mm, 1-2-pinnately lobed (ultimate lobes ± lanceolate, often arrayed in multiple planes ), faces glabrate to sparsely tomentose or densely lanate . Heads 10-100+, in simple or compound , corymbiform arrays. Phyllaries 20-30 in ± 3 series, (light green, midribs dark green to yellowish, margins green to light or dark brown) ovate to lanceolate, abaxial faces tomentose. Receptacles convex ; paleae lanceolate, 1.5-4 mm. Ray florets (3-) 5-8, pistillate , fertile ; corollas white or light pink to deep purple, laminae 1.5-3 × 1.5-3 mm. Disc florets 10-20; corollas white to grayish white, 2-4.5 mm. Cypselae 1-2 mm (margins broadly winged ). 2n = 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72 (including counts from Europe). Flowering late Apr-early Jul (south), mid Jul-mid Sep (north).

Achillea millefolium is morphologically variable and has been treated as either a single species with varieties or as multiple distinct species. At least 58 names have been used for North American specimens. Some early workers (e.g. , J. Clausen et al. 1948) thought the native North American plants were taxonomically distinguishable from introduced , Old World plants. Other workers (e.g., R. J. Tyrl 1975) have treated A. millefolium as a cosmopolitan , Northern Hemisphere polyploid complex of native and introduced plants that have hybridized, forming diploid, tetraploid , pentaploid , hexaploid , septaploid, and octoploid plants and/or populations constituting a single, variable species.

Morphologic characters that have been used to segregate these populations into species and/or varieties include: (1) degree and persistence of tomentum ; (2) phyllaries with greenish, light brown, or dark brown margins; (3) shapes of capitulescences (rounded or flat-topped) ; and (4) degrees of leaf dissection and shapes of lobes.

While examining specimens for this treatment, two general trends were noted: (1) Plants growing either at high latitudes or high elevations tend to have darker colored margins on the phyllaries. (2) Plants at high latitudes or elevations or from extreme desert locations tend to be more densely lanate than plants from less extreme habitats . These are only trends; variations in local populations due to local environmental conditions are to be expected.

An eco-morphotype adapted to the Athabasca sand dunes of northern Saskatchewan has been known as A. megacephala or A. millefolium var. megacephala and has been treated as a taxon of special concern in Canada (V. L. Harms 1999).

Habit: Mat-forming evergreen groundcover.

Flowers: Masses of pale lemon-yellow flowers. • Bloom Period: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. • Flower Color: near white, white

Foliage: Summer foliage: Feathery, medium green foliage .

Size/Age/Growth

Size: 12-18" tall.

Landscaping

Landscape Uses: Cut flowers. Dried flowers. • Care: Shearing prolongs bloom and maintains form.

Habitat

Pastures, meadows, roadsides, stream sides, woodlands, waste grounds , dry or sandy soils, also in damp, clayey, and salty soils; 0-3600 m.

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 3,028 meters (0 to 9,934 feet).[2]

Biology

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Reproduction

Duration: Perennial

Growth

Culture: Space 36-48" apart.

Soil: Benefits from well-drained soil with low fertility . • Minimum pH: 5.1 • Maximum pH: 7.5

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full Sun .

Moisture: Drought Tolerance: High

Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b. (map)

Taxonomy

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Synonyms

Achillea alpicola (Rydberg) Rydberg • Achillea arenicola A. Heller • Achillea borealis Bongard arenicola (A. Heller) D. D. Keck • Achillea borealis californica (Pollard) D. D. Keck • Achillea californica Pollard; A. Gigantea Pollard • Achillea lanulosa alpicola (Rydberg) D. D. Keck • Achillea lanulosa Nuttall • Achillea laxiflora Pollard and Cockerel • Achillea megacephala Raup • Achillea millefolium borealis (Bongard) Breitung • Achillea millefolium lanulosa (Nuttall) Piper • Achillea millefolium var. alpicola (Rydberg) Garrett • Achillea millefolium var. arenicola (A. Heller) Nobs • Achillea millefolium var. asplenifolia (Ventenat) Farwell • Achillea millefolium var. borealis (Bongard) Farwell • Achillea millefolium var. californica (Pollard) Jepson • Achillea millefolium var. gigantea (Pollard) Nobs • Achillea millefolium var. lanulosa (Nuttall) Piper • Achillea millefolium var. litoralis Ehrendorfer Ex Nobs • Achillea millefolium var. maritima Jepson • Achillea millefolium var. megacephala (Raup) B. Boivin • Achillea millefolium var. nigrescens E. Meyer • Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis de Candolle • Achillea millefolium var. pacifica (Rydberg) G. N. Jones • Achillea millefolium var. puberula (Rydberg) Nobs • Achillea nigrescens (E. Meyer) Rydberg • Achillea occidentalis (De Candolle) Rafinesque Ex Rydberg • Achillea pacifica Rydberg • Achillea puberula Rydberg • Achillea rosea Desfontaines • Achillea subalpina Greene

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Achillea

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 118 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

A. ageratifolia (Balkan Yarrow) · A. ageratifolia aizoon (Yarrow) · A. ageratum (Sweet Nancy) · A. ageratum 'Moonwalker' (Sweet Nancy) · A. atrata (Yarrow) · A. clavennae (Silvery Yarrow) · A. distans (Alps Yarrow) · A. distans tanacetifolia (Alps Yarrow) · A. filipendulina (Fern-Leaf Yarrow) · A. filipendulina 'Cloth of Gold' (Fern-Leaf Yarrow) · A. filipendulina 'Gold Coin Dwarf' (Fern-Leaf Yarrow) · A. filipendulina 'Gold Plate' (Fern-Leaf Yarrow) · A. filipendulina 'Parker's Variety' (Parker's Variety Fern-Leaf Yarrow) · A. glaberrima 'Gold Spray' (Yarrow) · A. ligustica (Ligurian Yarrow) · A. macrophylla (Big-Leaf Yarrow) · A. millefolia (Hierba De Las Cortaduras) · A. millefolium (Bloodwort) · A. millefolium borealis (Common Yarrow) · A. millefolium elbursensis (Common Yarrow) · A. millefolium f. rosea (Milfoil) · A. millefolium megacephalum (Bloodwort) · A. millefolium var. alpicola (Common Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. alpicola (Rydb.) Garrett (Common Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. arenicola (Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. arenicola (Heller) Nobs (Common Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. borealis (Boreal Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. californica (Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. californica (Pollard) Jeps. (California Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. gigantea (Giant Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. gigantea (Pollard) Nobs (Bloodwort) · A. millefolium var. litoralis (Coast Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. litoralis Ehrend. ex Nobs (Coast Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. megacephala (Largehead Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. megacephala (Raup) Boivin (Largehead Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. millefolium (Common Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. millefolium L. (Common Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. nigrescens (Common Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. nigrescens E.Mey. (Common Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. occidentalis (Western Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. pacifica (Pacific Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. pacifica (Rydb.) G.N.Jones (Bloodwort) · A. millefolium var. puberula (Common Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. puberula (Rydb.) Nobs (Common Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. rosea 'Island Pink' (Pink Yarrow) · A. millefolium var. rubra (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Angelique' (Angelique Common Yarrow) · A. millefolium 'Apple Blossom' (Apple Blossom Yarrow) · A. millefolium 'Cassis' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Cerise Queen' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Christel' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Circus' (Yarrow 'circus') · A. millefolium 'Colorado' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Debutante Mix' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Fireland' (Bloodwort) · A. millefolium 'Joey' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Laura' (Yarrow 'laura') · A. millefolium 'Lavender Beauty' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Lavender Deb' (Lavender Deb Yarrow) · A. millefolium 'Little Suzie' (Yarrow 'little Suzie') · A. millefolium 'Oertel's Rose' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Orange Queen' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Paprika' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Peggy Sue' (Yarrow 'peggy Sue') · A. millefolium 'Pomegranate' (Yarrow 'pomegranate') · A. millefolium 'Pretty Woman' (Yarrow 'pretty Woman') · A. millefolium 'Proa' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Red Beauty' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Red Velvet' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Royal Tapestry' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Salmon Beauty' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Snow Sport' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Summerwine' (Summerwine Common Yarrow) · A. millefolium 'Summer Pastels' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Summer Wine' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Taygetea' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Taygetea Debutante' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Terracotta' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Terra Cotta' (Terra Cotta Common Yarrow) · A. millefolium 'The Beacon' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Walther Funcke' (Milfoil) · A. millefolium 'Wesersandstein' (Milfoil) · A. nobilis (Noble Yarrow) · A. nobilis densissima (Noble Yarrow) · A. ptarmica (Brideflower) · A. ptarmica ptarmica (Sneezewort Yarrow) · A. ptarmica 'Angel's Breath' (Angel's Breath Sneezewort) · A. ptarmica 'Nana Ballerina' (Brideflower) · A. ptarmica 'Perry's White' (Sneezeweed) · A. ptarmica 'The Pearl' (Sneezeweed) · A. sibirica (Siberian Yarrow) · A. sibirica var. camtschatica 'Love Parade' (Love Parade Yarrow) · A. taygetea (Greek Yarrow) · A. tomentosa 'Aurea' (Dwarf Yarrow) · A. tomentosa 'Golden Fleece' (Dwarf Yarrow) · A. tomentosa 'King Edward' (Dwarf Yarrow) · A. tomentosa 'Moonlight' (Dwarf Yarrow) · A. x kellereri (Yarrow) · A. x lewisii (Dwarf Yarrow) · A. × lewisii 'King Edward' (King Edward Wooly Yarrow)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 11, 2007:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Debra K. Trock "Achillea". in Flora of North America Vol. 19, 20 and 21 Page 14, 487, 492. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  2. Mean = 378.240 meters (1,240.945 feet), Standard Deviation = 487.070 based on 5,031 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 7/14/2012