https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/185956986
For my species this week, I found the Yarrow; they look like a bunch of white flowers and reminded me of Cow Parsnip. I always see these Yarrows around my neighborhood, and I've always wondered what they are. They always looked like Cow Parsnip from afar, so I never got close to them. I hate Cow Parsnip because I had an accident where I brushed up against one, and it hurt a lot, but luckily, I didn't brush up against it that hard, so it wasn't that bad. But every year, I see more and more Cow Parsnips popping up around the neighborhood, and Yarrow just keeps reminding me of that fact. I figured I should give Yarrows a shot and see what they're really about.
Tribes in North America used yarrows for a variety of ailments (Vizgirdas 4). They would crush the plant and apply it to wounds and burns (Vizgirdas 4). They would also dry the leaves and use them in tea to help with colds, fevers, and headaches (Vizgirdas 4). It has also been used in Europe to brew beer (Vizgirdas 4). Finally, the Chinese consider the Yarrow to be good luck (Vizgirdas 4). I didn't realize the Yarrow had such a rich history to it. This makes me wonder what else there is to explore and find in my neighborhood.
The Yarrow, or milfoil as it is sometimes called, is a member of the aster or composite family (Asteraceae) (Vizgirdas 1). The Yarrow "has flat-topped or dome-shaped clusters of small white flowers that bloom from April to October. An attractive, hardy perennial, yarrow can reach about 3 feet in height" (Vizgirdas 1). The Yarrow is found throughout North America and in selective parts of Europe and Asia (Vizgirdas 2). "The name milfoil comes from its Latin name 'millefolium' meaning 'a thousand leaves'" (Vizgirdas 2).
Overall, the Yarrow turned out to be a lot more interesting than I thought; I was actually debating whether or not to do a different species this week. I really thought that I wouldn't get that much information out of this plant, but I was pleasantly shocked. It goes to show me never to judge a plant by its appearance.
Source:
Vizgirdas, Edna. “U.S. Forest Service.” Plant of the Week, United States Department of Agriculture, www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/achillea_millefolium.shtml. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.