Yarrow
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Anthemideae
Genus: Achillea
L.
Type species
Achillea millefolium
Synonyms
  • Millefolium Mill.[2]
  • Ptarmica Mill.[3]

Achillea /ækɪˈliːə/[4] is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, known colloquially as yarrows. The plants typically have frilly leaves. The common name "yarrow" usually refers to A. millefolium. The genus was named after the Greek mythological character Achilles, whose soldiers were said to have used yarrow to treat their wounds;[5] this is reflected by common names such as allheal and bloodwort. The genus is native primarily to Eurasia and North America.

Description

These plants typically have frilly, hairy, aromatic leaves. The plants show large, flat clusters of small flowers at the top of the stem. The flowers can be white, yellow, orange, pink or red and are generally visited by many insects, and are thus characterised by a generalised pollination system.[6]

Taxonomy

Carl Linnaeus described the genus in 1753.[7][8] The common name "yarrow" is usually applied to Achillea millefolium,[9] but may also be used for other species within the genus.

Selected species

Nearly 1,000 names have been published within the genus Achillea, at or below the level of species. Sources differ widely as to which should be recognized as species, which merit subspecies or variety status, and which ones are merely synonyms of better-established names. For convenience, the Plant List maintained by the Kew Botanic Gardens is followed.[10]

Cultivars

The following cultivars are recipients of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

Etymology

The genus was named after the Greek mythological character Achilles. According to legend, Achilles' soldiers used yarrow to treat their wounds,[26] hence some of its common names such as allheal and bloodwort.

Distribution and habitat

The genus is primarily native to Europe, temperate areas of Asia, and North America.[27][28]

Ecology

Achillea species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species.

Uses

Achillea species and cultivars are popular garden plants.

Gallery

References

  1. ^ lectotype designated by Green, Prop. Brit. Bot. 182 (1929)
  2. ^ "Achillea". Index Nominum Genericorum. International Association for Plant Taxonomy. 2006-02-20. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  3. ^ "Ptarmica Mill. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  4. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
  5. ^ Coombes, Allen J. (2012). The A to Z of plant names : a quick reference guide to 4000 garden plants (1st ed.). Portland, Or.: Timber Press. p. 28. ISBN 978-1-60469-196-2. OCLC 741564356.
  6. ^ Van Der Kooi, C. J.; Pen, I.; Staal, M.; Stavenga, D. G.; Elzenga, J. T. M. (2015). "Competition for pollinators and intra-communal spectral dissimilarity of flowers". Plant Biology. 18 (1): 56–62. doi:10.1111/plb.12328. PMID 25754608.
  7. ^ Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 2: 896–897. in Latin
  8. ^ Tropicos, Achillea L.
  9. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  10. ^ The Plant List search for Achillea
  11. ^ "Achillea ageratifolia". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Achillea 'Coronation Gold'". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  13. ^ "Achillea 'Credo'". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Achillea filipendulina 'Cloth of Gold'". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  15. ^ "Achillea filipendula 'Gold Plate'". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  16. ^ "Achillea 'Heidi'". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Achillea 'Hella Glashoff'". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  18. ^ "Achillea 'Lachsschönheit' (Galaxy Series)". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  19. ^ "Achillea × lewisii 'King Edward'". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  20. ^ "Achillea 'Lucky Break'". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Achillea 'Martina'". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  22. ^ "Achillea millefolium 'Lansdorferglut'". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  23. ^ "Achillea 'Mondpagode'". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  24. ^ "Achillea 'Moonshine'". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  25. ^ "Achillea 'Summerwine'". RHS. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  26. ^ Jalali, Farnood Shokouhi Sabet; Tajik, Hossein; Hadian, Mojtaba (2010). "Efficacy of topical application of alcoholic extract of yarrow in the healing process of experimental burn wounds in rabbit". Comparative Clinical Pathology. 21 (2): 177–181. doi:10.1007/s00580-010-1081-7. S2CID 24486255.
  27. ^ Flora of North America Achillea Linnaeus
  28. ^ Flora of China Vol. 20-21 Page 759 蓍属 shi shu Achillea Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 896. 1753.
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