''Achillea ptarmica'' is a European
species of
herbaceous
Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials.
Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous"
The fourth edition of t ...
perennial flowering plant in the
genus ''Achillea'' of the daisy
family Asteraceae. Common names include the sneezewort, sneezeweed, bastard pellitory, European pellitory, fair-maid-of-France, goose tongue, sneezewort yarrow, wild pellitory, and white tansy. It is widespread across most of
Europe and naturalized in scattered places in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
. It is native to Europe and western Asia.
''Achillea ptarmica'' has loose clusters of showy white composite flower heads that bloom from June to August. Its dark green leaves have finely toothed margins. Like many other plants, the sneezewort's pattern of development displays the
Fibonacci sequence.
The name ''ptarmica'' comes from the
Greek word ''ptairo'' (=sneeze) and means 'causes sneezing'.
Uses
Leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. ''Achillea ptarmica'' yields an
essential oil
An essential oil is a concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile (easily evaporated at normal temperatures) chemical compounds from plants. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the o ...
that is used in herbal medicine. The leaves are used as an insect repellent.
When chewed, the plant produces a numbing, tingling effect in the mouth, comparable to that of
Sichuan pepper. For this reason, it is sometimes used in herbal medicine to relieve toothache or ulcers, and as a culinary herb.
Cultivation
This is a hardy, drought-tolerant plant that prefers full sun and moist but well-drained
soil.
Propagation is by sowing seed or division in Spring.
It will tolerate hot, humid summers, and drought.
References
ptarmica
Flora of Europe
Garden plants of Europe
Medicinal plants of Europe
Plants described in 1753
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
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