Achillea erba-rotta
Flowers of Achillea erba-rotta
Scientific classification Edit this classification
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]
  • Achillea cuneifolia Lam.
  • Achillea haussknechtiana Asch.
  • Achillea herba-rota All.
  • Achillea herba-rotta Vill.
  • Achillea morisiana Rchb.
  • Ptarmica erba-rotta (All.) DC.
Close-up of a flowers, lateral view

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 (4.7–7.1 in) in height.[3] The stems are woody and creeping, almost glabrous or with short hair and with erect flowering branches. Leaves of sterile branches are lanceolate-spatulate, 5–7 mm wide and 26–30 mm long, with 4-7 teeth on each side.[3] Cauline leaves are alternate, sessile, toothed and progressively linear, about 2–3 mm wide and 11–22 mm long.[3] Flowers are hermaphroditic and pentamerous, arranged in corymbs with many heads, about 3 mm in diameter, with rounded ligules.[3] The flowering period extends from July through August. The fruit is a flattened achene without pappus.

Distribution

This typical plant of Alps is present in Italy, France, Switzerland and Austria.[3][4]

Habitat

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]

Subspecies

accepted by The Plant List[5]
  • 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

References

  • Tutin, T.G. et al. – Flora Europaea, second edition – 1993
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