Achillea millefolium megacephalum

• Overview
• Interesting Facts
• Common Names
• Description
• Taxonomy
• Similar Species
• More Info
• Further Reading
• Notes

Overview

Special Concern

Interesting Facts

Common Names

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Description

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]

Taxonomy

Notes

Place of publication : Sp. pl. 2:899. 1753

Name verified on 20-May-1992 by ARS Systematic Botanists. Last updated: 19-Apr-2000

Similar Species

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

• CIBA-GEIGY, Basel, Switzerland. The CIBA-GEIGY Weed Tables (Weed TabCIBA)
• Caligari, P. D. S. & D. J. N. Hind, eds. 1996. Compositae: biology and utilization. (Biol Util Comp)
• Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas. (F Tex)
• Cronquist, A. et al. 1972–. Intermountain flora. (Intermt F)
• Davis, P. H., ed. 1965–1988. Flora of Turkey and the east Aegean islands. (F Turk)
• Demilly, D. et al. 1996. Liste alphabetique des principales especes de plantes cultivees et de mauvaises herbes. (L PlCulCNames)
• Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs. (CRC MedHerbs ed2)
• Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage. (Zander ed13)
• Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada, ed. 2. (Glea Cron ed2)
• Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. (F CalifJep)
• Hitchcock, C. L. & A. Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest: an illustrated manual. (Man Pacif NW)
• Hitchcock, C. L. et al. 1955–1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. (F Pacif NW)
• Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening. (Dict Gard)
• Kala, C. P. et al. 2004. Prioritization of medicinal plants on the basis of available knowledge, existing practices and use value status in Uttaranchal, India. Biodivers. & Conserv. 13:459.
• Kearney, T. H. & R. H. Peebles. 1969. Arizona flora, ed. 2. (F Ariz) [= A. lanulosa].
• Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934–1964. Flora SSSR. (F USSR)
• Lazarides, M. & B. Hince. 1993. CSIRO Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia. (Econ Pl Aust)
• Leung, A. Y. & S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics, ed. 2. (Ency CNatIn)
• Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. (Hortus 3)
• Magee, D. W. & H. E. Ahles. 1999. Flora of the Northeast. A manual of the vascular flora of New England and adjacent New York. (F NE US)
• Malezasdemexico. Malezas de México - on-line resource. (Malezas Mex)
• Markle, G. M. et al., eds. 1998. Food and feed crops of the United States, ed. 2. (Food Feed Crops US)
• Martin, W. C. & C. R. Hutchins. 1980. A flora of New Mexico. (F New Mex) [= A. lanulosa].
• McGregor, R. L. et al. (The Great Plains Flora Association). 1977. Atlas of the Flora of the Great Plains. (Atlas GPlains)
• McGuffin, M. et al., eds. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2. (Herbs Commerce ed2)
• Missouri Botanical Garden. Flora of China Checklist - on-line resource. (L China)
• Parsa, A. 1943–1952. Flore de l'Iran. (F IranPars)
• Radford, A. E. et al., eds. 1980–. Vascular flora of the southeastern United States. (F SE US)
• Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963–. Flora iranica. (F Iran)
• Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants. (Dict Rehm)
• Scoggan, H. J. 1978–1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol. (F Canada) [introduced].
• Sharma, B. D. et al., eds. 1993–. Flora of India. (F India)
• Standley, P. C. & J. A. Steyermark. 1946–1976. Flora of Guatemala. (F Guat)
• Stewart, R. 1972. An annotated catalogue of the vascular plants of West Pakistan and Kashmir. (L Pak)
• Tunon, H. 1998. Compositae newsletter. Columbus, OH [etc.]. (Comp Newsl) 32:1–5.
• Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964–1980. Flora europaea. (F Eur)
• Tyrl, R. J. 1975. Origin and distribution of polyploid Achillea (Compositae) in western North America. Brittonia 27:193–194.
• Welsh, S. L. et al. 1993. A Utah flora. (F Utah ed2)
• Clausen, J., D. D. Keck, and W. M. Hiesey. 1948. Experimental studies on the nature of species. III. Environmental responses of climatic races of Achillea. Publ. Carnegie Inst. Wash. 581.
• Pollard, C. L. 1899. The genus Achillea in North America. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, 26: 365-372.
• Tyrl, R. J. 1975. Origin and distribution of polyploid Achillea (Compositae) in western North America. Brittonia 27: 187-196.

Notes

Contributors

• Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-present. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Zwaag, The Netherlands. Accessed January 10, 2012.
• Species At Risk Act Public Registry, Government of Canada
• USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. URL (May 04, 2008)

Identifiers

• GRIN Nomen Number: 1270
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 180080

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]

©2004-2012 David Stang. All rights reserved.