Flower ID: IMG_0978.JPG-07-02-2017; IMG_0725.JPG-06-11-2017 Flower name (scientific): Achillea millefolium Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) ak-ih-LEE-ah mill-ee-FOH-lee-um Flower name (common): Common Yarrow Family name (common): Aster Family name (scientific): Asteraceae Scientific name origin: Genus: Named for the mythical Greek warrior Achilles. Legend has it that he used one of the species of the genus to treat battle wounds at the siege of Troy. Specific epithet: From the Latin thousand (mille) leaves (folium). For the finely divided fern-like leaf structure. Common name origin: Medieval (11th - 16th centuries). In Old English it was gearwe. First reference in the OED to the latter name is the year 725. With the modern spelling the OED gives 1597 as the first use. Flower description: Size: About 0.25 inches (6 mm) wide. Petal count: ray florets 5, typically 4 to 8, disc florets 10 to 20. Color: White, can also be pink-colored, which is uncommon. Other: Forms flower clusters around 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) wide. Flower tips are notched. Plant description: Erect forb. Size: Typically 8 to 40 inches (20 to 102 cm) Stem hairy: Variable, sparse to dense, hairs lanate to tomentose. Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate, type is simple and lobed. Size: Typically up to about 15 cm (6 inches) long and about 0.5 to 3 cm wide. Smaller near the top of the stem. Color: Medium green. Hairy: Variable Other: Fern-like leaf structure. Shape: leaf, oblong or lanceolate (FNA), elliptic in outline (IL), pinnately lobed (MP) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium is native in Wisconsin. Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): July to October Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Disturbed areas, fields, prairies, roadsides, sun or part shade, some moisture to wet. Fruit: Achenes tan to brown. Seed: Importance to wildlife: Bees in the following genera Ceratina, Halictus, Hylaeus, Lasioglossum, and Megachile, butterflies Limenitis arthemis (Red-Spotted Admiral) and Satyrium calanus (Banded Hairstreak), and flies in the genera Allograpta, Anthomyia, Calythea, Eristalis, Eupeodes, Graphomya, Gymnoclytia, Hedriodiscus, Lucilia, and at least 12 additional genera, have been observed on this plant. At least nine different wasp genera, one moth species, and several different bug species have also been reported to visit this plant (Graenicher, pp. 69–70, 1909). Click for further pollinator information on this flower. Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes. Achillea ptarmica (Sneezewort) flowers have some resemblance to A. millefolium, but the former species does not have the finely divided leaves that characterize the latter species. Achillea alpina (Siberian Yarrow) has a slight resemblance, but has a different leaf appearance. A. alpina has not been recorded in the mid-west states except for Minnesota and North Dakota. Ethnobotany: Used by a large number of Native American tribes for a wide variety of medical problems. See The Native American Ethnobotany Database - web site ref. 12 on the home page. Moerman lists Achillea millefolium as second from the top in his list of the top ten plants with the greatest number of uses by Native Americans (Moerman, p. 12, 1998). Approximately 97% of the recorded uses of the plant are for the preparation of drugs. In fact, this plant is the top of Moerman's list of plants that have been used medicinally. The Chippewa (Ojibwa) used a decoction of the leaves for headache and the smoke from burning the florets to reduce a fever (Densmore, p. 336, 1928; Smith, p. 362, 1932). The Menominee used a poultice of the dry powered leaves as a dermatological aid and also used the plant to treat fevers (Smith, p. 29, 1923). The Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) also used the plant as a dermatological aid (Gilmore, p. 134, 1919). The Potawatomi used the flowers as a stimulant (Moerman, pp. 42–44, 1998). The Potawatomi placed the flowers on hot coals to produce a scent that would aid patient recovery. They employed the smoke from the burning seed heads to keep witches away (Smith, pp. 43, 119, 1933). The Meskwaki used both the leaves and flowers to prepare a tea that was employed to treat fevers (Smith, p. 210, 1928). In this last reference Smith uses the old synonym name Achillea anulosa. At least 56 Native American tribes have used this plant for medicinal purposes (Moerman, pp. 42–44, 2009), and the number is larger if intraspecific taxa are included. Latitude: 44.795900 Longitude: -91.513648 Altitude: 283.50 Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) In Canada: (AB, BC, LB, MB, NB, NF, NS, NT, NU, ON, PE, QC, SK, YT) References: Debra K. Trock, In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico [Online]. 22+ vols. New York and Oxford. Vol. 19. http://floranorthamerica.org/Achillea_millefolium. Accessed [09-30-2021]. Synonym(s): Achillea alpicola (Rydberg) Rydberg, Achillea arenicola A. Heller, Achillea borealis subsp. arenicola (A. Heller) D. D. Keck, Achillea borealis subsp. californica (Pollard) D. D. Keck, Achillea californica Pollard, Achillea dentifera de Candolle, Achillea gigantea Nuttall, Achillea lanulosa Pollard & Cockerell, Achillea lanulosa subsp. alpicola (Rydberg) D. D. Keck, Achillea laxiflora (E. Meyer) Rydberg, Achillea megacephala (de Candolle) Rafinesque ex Rydberg, Achillea millefolium var. alpicola (Rydberg) Garrett, Achillea millefolium var. arenicola (A. Heller) Nobs, Achillea millefolium var. asplenifolia (Ventenat) Farwell, Achillea millefolium subsp. borealis (Bongard) Breitung, Achillea millefolium var. borealis (Bongard) Farwell, Achillea millefolium var. californica (Pollard) Jepson, Achillea millefolium var. gigantea (Pollard) Nobs, Achillea millefolium subsp. lanulosa (Nuttall) Piper, 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 Ryd Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): PWO lists 6 homotypic synonyms for this species. Heterotypic Synonym(s): Under the name Achillea millefolium subsp.millefolium PWO lists 137 heterotypic synonyms. This large number is probably connected to the wide spread distribution of this plant. Autonym:Achillea millefolium Linnaeus subsp. millefolium. (The other infraspecifics are Achillea millefolium subsp.alpestris (Wimmer, Günther & Grabowski) Gremli, Achillea millefolium subsp.ceretanica (Sennen) Sennen, Achillea millefolium subsp.chitralensis Huber-Morath, Achillea millefolium subsp.collina (Wirtgen) Oborny, Achillea millefolium subsp.elbursensis Huber-Morath. None of these subspecies have been recorded from North America. The USNPGS lists Achillea millefolium L. var.millefolium as an autonym. The GCC lists all the many proposed vars. of A. millefolium as synonyms for A. millefolium.)