Musings

Monday, August 10, 2015

Yarrow



This is a common flower at the moment. At first sight you think it's an umbelliferer, but in fact it's in the daisy family, Asteraceae. Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, is native throughout the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere where it has always been associated with the treatment of bleeding wounds. Hence its ancient name of herbal militaris. 
It also had other uses and was considered powerful by some for, and some against, evil. Mr Grigson tells us that in one part of the country girls would put the leaves up their noses and chant a rhyme that essentially asked that if their love should love them, let their nose bleed. I can't see that trending amongst the youth of today.

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