Achillea Explained
Achillea [1] 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;[2] 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.[3]
Taxonomy
Carl Linnaeus described the genus in 1753.[4] [5] The common name "yarrow" is usually applied to Achillea millefolium,[6] 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.[7]
Cultivars
The following cultivars are recipients of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:
- Achillea ageratifolia[8]
- Achillea 'Coronation Gold'[9]
- Achillea 'Credo' [10]
- Achillea filipendulina 'Cloth of Gold' [11]
- Achillea filipendulina 'Gold Plate' [12]
- Achillea 'Heidi' [13]
- Achillea 'Hella Glashoff' [14]
- Achillea 'Lachsschönheit' (Galaxy Series) [15]
- Achillea × lewisii 'King Edward'[16]
- Achillea 'Lucky Break' [17]
- Achillea 'Martina'[18]
- Achillea millefolium 'Lansdorferglut' [19]
- Achillea 'Mondpagode'[20]
- Achillea 'Moonshine' [21]
- Achillea 'Summerwine'[22]
Etymology
The genus was named after the Greek mythological character Achilles. According to legend, Achilles' soldiers used yarrow to treat their wounds,[23] 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.[24] [25]
Ecology
Achillea species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species.
Uses
Achillea species and cultivars are popular garden plants.
Notes and References
- Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
- Book: Coombes, Allen J.. The A to Z of plant names : a quick reference guide to 4000 garden plants. 2012. Timber Press. 978-1-60469-196-2. 1st. Portland, Or.. 28. 741564356.
- 10.1111/plb.12328 . Competition for pollinators and intra-communal spectral dissimilarity of flowers . Plant Biology . 2015 . Van Der Kooi . C. J. . Pen . I. . Staal . M. . Stavenga . D. G. . Elzenga . J. T. M. . 25754608 . 18 . 1 . 56–62.
- https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358917#page/338/mode/1up Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 2: 896–897.
- http://www.tropicos.org/Name/40030407 Tropicos, Achillea L.
- Book: RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants . Dorling Kindersley . 2008 . 978-1405332965 . United Kingdom . 1136.
- http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/search?q=Achillea The Plant List search for Achillea
- Web site: Achillea ageratifolia . 27 February 2020 . RHS.
- Web site: Achillea 'Coronation Gold' . 27 February 2020 . RHS.
- Web site: Achillea 'Credo' . 27 February 2020 . RHS.
- Web site: Achillea filipendulina 'Cloth of Gold' . 27 February 2020 . RHS.
- Web site: Achillea filipendula 'Gold Plate' . 27 February 2020 . RHS.
- Web site: Achillea 'Heidi' . 27 February 2020 . RHS.
- Web site: Achillea 'Hella Glashoff' . 27 February 2020 . RHS.
- Web site: Achillea 'Lachsschönheit' (Galaxy Series) . 27 February 2020 . RHS.
- Web site: Achillea × lewisii 'King Edward' . 27 February 2020 . RHS.
- Web site: Achillea 'Lucky Break' . 27 February 2020 . RHS.
- Web site: Achillea 'Martina' . 27 February 2020 . RHS.
- Web site: Achillea millefolium 'Lansdorferglut' . 27 February 2020 . RHS.
- Web site: Achillea 'Mondpagode' . 27 February 2020 . RHS.
- Web site: Achillea 'Moonshine' . 27 February 2020 . RHS.
- Web site: Achillea 'Summerwine' . 27 February 2020 . RHS.
- 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 . 10.1007/s00580-010-1081-7 . 24486255.
- http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=100191 Flora of North America Achillea Linnaeus
- http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=100191 Flora of China Vol. 20-21 Page 759 蓍属 shi shu Achillea Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 896. 1753.