Achilles’ Herb of the Apennine Peaks

Image not available

Scientific name:

Achillea tenorei Grande

Common name:

Tenore’s Yarrow

Family:

Asteraceae

Biological form:

Emicriptofita scaposa

Characteristics

Habit: A perennial herb 10-20 cm tall. Stem: Herbaceous, yellow-green to reddish, slightly bent at the base and branched above. Leaves: Alternate, lanceolate, but deeply divided into 4-8 toothed segments on each side, giving the plant a refined and orderly appearance. Flowers: Borne in a compact corymb-like inflorescence at the top of the stem, with whitish-yellow central tubular florets and white outer ray florets. Fruits: Tiny achenes lacking pappus. Flowering: July-September.

Distribution and habitat

Chorological type: Italian endemic. Distribution: Endemic to the central and southern Apennines. Habitat: Rocky, dry and sun-exposed pastures, between 1500 and 2000 m above sea level.

Etymology

Generic name (Achillea): Derived from Achilles, the Greek hero who used these plants to heal the wounds of his warriors. Specific name (tenorei): Honors Michele Tenore (1780-1861), the renowned Neapolitan botanist and scholar of Apennine flora.