Yarrow - introduced (*Achillea millefolium)

Family: Asteraceae (Daisy family).
Native of Europe and Asia.

Occurrence: A garden escape, often growing on roadsides. It is more common in higher rainfall areas.

Identification:

• it is a pink to white daisy with 5 spreading petals which surround the inner florets
• the stem branches repeatedly near the top, and the final branches terminate with flowers
• the flowers form a flattish head
• the leaves are twice or thrice-divided into narrow segments
• Yarrow usually grows from about 30 cm to a metre high
• the plant is aromatic.

Yarrow often forms clumps, due to its ability to spread via its roots. Yarrow is reputed to have medicinal properties. Achilles is said to have used Yarrow to stop bleeding of war wounds (and hence the name Achillea). It spreads from dumped garden refuse, and can also spread from seed.