Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium)
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Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium)
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(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 01) This is the common yarrow or milfoil. The name, "milfoil" comes from its Latin name millefolium, meaning "thousand-leaved." There are five other known species of yarrow in the United States. The flowers of the yarrow form in a flat-topped corymb (a formation in which the lower flowering stem branches are longer than the higher ones, so as to form a flat top).

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 01a) This closer look at the yarrow shows why it was called "thousand-leaved." The fern-like leaves branch alternately along the wildflower's stem, and then branch again in opposing frilly projections.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 02) In this photo we can get a closer look at how several flowering stem branches form a relatively flat-topped corymb. The yarrow escaped from cultivation after its importation from Europe where it was used as a medicinal plant. The yarrow's scientific name "Achillea" comes from the legend that Achilles discovered its healing properties and used it to treat the wounds of his soldiers at the siege of Troy.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 03) In this bee's eye view of the yarrow flowers, we can see why it is a member of the composite family (according to several of our sources). The little flowering "domes" are really composed of many individual flowers, each having four petals, a pistil and stamens. The broad white petal-like structures that surround the flowering domes are most likely ray-flowers, though we could not confirm this in the literature. The USDA classifies yarrow as a member of the aster family, with no explanation as to the reason. Our other references indicate that asters are also members of the composite family.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 04) This is another yarrow plant that we spotted growing along the side of the road. Yarrow are native to Europe and Asia, and was most likely brought to the North America by settlers who were interested in herbal medicine.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 04a) The frilly leaves in this photo belong to the yarrow and the plainly illustrate why this wild flower was named "millefolium", because it looks like it has a thousand leaves.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 04b) This is a closer look at some of the mature yarrow or milfoil flowers.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 05) This is a slightly more elevated photo of the yarrow flowering corymbs.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 05a) When looking at the yarrow's flowering corymbs closely, as we are in this photo, each corymb looks like a bouquet. We always marvel at the intricate detail contained in God's creation.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 06) This is a side view of a cluster of yarrow that were growing along the side of the road.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 06a) In this side view of the yarrow we have a good look at the arrangement of the stems, leaves, and corymbs. Yarrow is a perennial herb that produces one to several stems (8 to 16 inches tall, though we've seen taller ones) from a fibrous underground horizontal rootstock (rhizome). The USDA says that it is known to be both native and introduced. Leaves are evenly distributed along the stem, with the leaves near the middle and bottom of the stem being the largest. The leaves have varying degrees of hairiness (pubescence). Leaf blades are lance-shaped in outline, but are finely divided. Overall leaf dimensions range from ¼ to 1¼ inch wide by 1¼ to 6 inches long. The flower heads (inflorescence) have a flattened dome shape (with approximately 10-20 ray flowers. The flowers are whitish to yellowish-white. The plant commonly persists from May through June.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 07) This is another photo of a yarrow that was blooming along the side of the road.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 07a) As we narrow our view of the flowering yarrow to single corymb, we can see more of the detail of the ray flowers, which are not distributed evenly around the disk flowers. The ray flowers are also toothed on the outer edge and look something like a classic tulip design. We have also observed that some of the individual blooms have 5 ray flowers.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 07b) In this photo of the yarrow, we can see the remaining dew drops that formed over night still clinging to the ray flowers.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 08) In this photo, we are focusing on the yarrow's stem and leaves, which give this wildflower its other name, milfoil, because of its many leaves.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 08a) In this close up photo of the yarrow or milfoil stem, we can observe the grooving in the main stem, and also in the lower portion of the branch going toward the right. We have also noticed that the main leaves see to grow alternately along the stem, and that there are numerous smaller leaves growing for the stem and branches.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 09) This is a cluster of yarrow flower buds.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 09a) This is a close up look at the yarrow flower buds, and one of the wildflower's visitors (bottom center).

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 10) This is an early morning view of the yarrow in full bloom, and covered with dew drops.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 10a) This is a bee's eye view of some of the individual flower clusters, each of which contains many flowers, as do other members of the aster family.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 11) This is another view of the myriad of flowers that comprise the yarrow bloom.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 11a) This is another close up look at some of the individual yarrow flower clusters.

(Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) - 12) This is another look at the yarrow flowers.

| Wild Flowers of SHL: Photo Identification, Common Name, Scientific Name | Art and Photos |

lamb-right lamb-left Presented here are just a few of the countless components of God's creation. Just as we cannot have human and animal life without water and plants, neither can we have lasting peace without love and compassion. It is our hope and prayer that this series will motivate people to live and act in a cruelty-free manner; that we would no longer hurt or destroy each other, the animals or our environment.

Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) Wild Flowers of Sleepy Hollow Lake From All-Creatures.org Art and Photo Journals and Galleries Directory

Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium) Table of Contents

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Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium)
Wild Flowers of Sleepy Hollow Lake From All-Creatures.org Art and Photo Journals and Galleries Directory

Yarrow, or Milfoil (Achillea millefolium)
Table of Contents