Achillea millefolium -L.-
yarrow


Entry Type: Species

Species Name: Achillea millefolium -L.-

Common Name: yarrow

Myaamia Name:

Description:

Harvest Seasons: Spring

Harvest Comments:

Habitats: Beech-Oak-Maple Mixed Mesophytic, Dry Prairie grasslands, Wet Prairie grasslands with flooding, Conifer Shrubland and Forest, Conifer Swamp some deciduous domts., Deciduous Swamp no coniferous domts.

Uses: Medicinal

Locations: Liebert Property

Sources

Rafert, S. 1992

Reference Type: Use - Medicinal

Archival Data:

A tea is made from root or flowers for "chills and fevers", poultices made for cuts.

 

Comments: N/A

Anonymous 1724

Reference Type: Use - Medicinal

Archival Data:

"The herb of a thousand leaves for all sorts of cuts".

Comments: One of Achillea millefolium's names in antiquity was 'thousand leaf', as the Latin specific epiphet denotes. The author is describing tribal customs from the upper Midwest, probably including some of the Miami-Illlinois tribal groups. – Michael Gonella

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006

Reference Type: Use - Medicinal

Archival Data:

Leaves washed, mashed and placed in cuts and wounds.

Comments: N/A

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Database 2006

Reference Type: Habitat

Archival Data :

Common yarrow is found throughout North America, including eastern and western Myaamia lands.

Comments: N/A

Gonella, M.P 2003-2006

Reference Type: Related Info

Archival Data:

Eugene Brown remembers being with a Potawatomi medicine man, John Moore, who showed him the yarrow plant who said if you are having trouble with bad dreams/evil spirits you hang this plant upside down around the outside of the house to keep them away.

Comments: N/A

Legends

  • L.: L. stands for Carl Linneaus, a Swedish botanist and zoologist living from 1707 - 1778, who formed the binomial nomenclature system for scientific naming of species (the two part name). His initial after a scientific name indicates he was the authority for that species name.
  • sp.: Indicates the actual species name cannot or need not be specified. Example: Lilium sp. indicates a single species in the genus Lilium that is not known or does not need to be specified.
  • spp.: (plural) indicates "several species", two or more species of the given genus. Example: Lilium spp. indicates 2 or more species in the genus that cannot or do not need to be distinguished.
  • Use - Unknown: A record for this plant exists but does not include explicit information about the plant's cultural use. It is probable the Myaamia used the plant.
  • Botanical Sources: Sources of any botanical data for this plant species that is not related to its cultural use or significance.
  • Related Sources: Data indirectly related to Myaamia ethnobotany, including non-Myaamia uses of the plant in contemporary and historic times.
  • Myaamia Archival Sources: All records of plant use obtained directly from a Myaamia tribal member in an interview, recorded by a second party or by self-recording.
  • Undetermined (Plant Use): There exists use or other information about a certain, unknown plant species, but the specific species has not yet been determined.
  • Medicinal: For the purposes of this database, medicinal uses of plants and medicinal knowledge are defined as: Commonly held communal knowledge regarding the use of plant-based substances that aid in maintaining a healthy mind, body or spirit, including tonics and teas.
  • Technology: For the purposes of this database, technological uses of plants are defined as: Plants used in the making of food processing, canoes, rafts, dyes, tools, utensils, weapons, hunting and fishing gear (i.e. net, weir, etc.), cordage, string, rope, fodder plant species, firewood, any plants used in trade, etc.
  • Material: For the purposes of this database, material uses of plants are defined as: Plants used in construction of dwellings (floor mats, roofing, side walls), furniture, baskets, storage items, musical instruments, games, crafts, jewelry, cordage used in crafts, etc.
  • Food: For the purposes of this database, food uses of plants are defined as: Plants used as consumed food, spices and seasonings, but not teas or tonics.
  • Customs: For the purposes of this database, customary uses of plants are defined as: Plants involved in a customary ceremony, ritual or traditional event, including ritual smoking, chewing tobacco, war rituals, special mats used to sit on during ceremonies. Customary uses of plants, in this database, does not including plants used for recreation (material), structures where ceremonies take place (material) or medicinal smoking (medicinal).
  • Eastern Myaamia Lands: Eastern Myaamia lands (eastern myaamionki) are centered around northern Indiana, and including western Ohio, eastern Illinois, southern Michigan, and the northernmost portions of Kentucky.
  • Western Myaamia Lands: Western Myaamia lands (western myaamionki) include western Kansas and northeastern Oklahoma.