Achillea erba-rotta
| Achillea erba-rotta | |
|---|---|
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| Flowers of Achillea erba-rotta | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Achillea |
| Species: | A. erba-rotta |
| Binomial name | |
| Achillea erba-rotta | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Achillea erba-rotta, common name simple leaved milfoil, is a perennial flowering plant of the genus Achillea, belonging to the sunflower family.[2]
Description
Achillea erba-rotta is a polymorphic species, as its physical characteristics clearly vary depending on the variety. The biological form is chamaephyte suffruticose,[3] as these plants have perennating buds borne close to the ground and are woody in the lower part of the stem, with herbaceous yearly branches. The primary root is a rhizome.
This plant reaches on average 12–18 centimetres (4+3⁄4–7 in) in height.[3] The stems are woody and creeping, almost glabrous or with short hair and with erect flowering branches. The leaves of sterile branches are lanceolate-spatulate, 5–7 millimetres (3⁄16–1⁄4 in) wide and 26–30 mm (1–1+1⁄8 in) long, with 4–7 teeth on each side.[3] Cauline leaves are alternate, sessile, toothed and progressively linear, about 2–3 mm (1⁄16–1⁄8 in) wide and 11–22 mm (7⁄16–7⁄8 in) long.[3] Appearing from July to August, the flowers are hermaphroditic and pentamerous, arranged in corymbs with many heads, about 3 mm in diameter, with rounded ligules.[3] The fruit is a flattened achene with no pappus.
Close-up of flowers
Subdivision
Subspecies
The following subspecies are accepted by the Plant List:[4]
- Achillea erba-rotta subsp. erba-rotta
- Achillea erba-rotta subsp. moschata (Wulfen) Vacc.
- Achillea erba-rotta subsp. rupestris (Porta) I.Richardson
Hybrids
- Achillea × obscura Nees
Distribution and habitat
This typical plant of Alps is present in Italy, France, Switzerland and Austria.[3][5]
It prefers a sunny location in alpine pastures and rocky areas, at an altitude of 2,000–2,800 metres (6,600–9,200 ft) above sea level.[3]
References
- ^ The Plant List, Achillea erba-rotta All.
- ^ Altervista Flora Italiana, Millefoglio erba-rotta, Simple Leaved Milfoil, Bisam-Schafgarbe, myskröllika, Achillea erba-rotta All.
- ^ a b c d e f g Pignatti S. – Flora d'Italia – Edagricole – 1982. Vol. III, p. 78
- ^ The Plant List, search for Achillea erba-rotta
- ^ Hortipedia Archived December 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- Tutin, T.G. et al. – Flora Europaea, second edition – 1993