https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/185956986
For my species this week, I found the Yarrow; they look like a bunch of white flowers and reminded me of Cow Parsnip. I always see these Yarrows around my neighborhood, and I've always wondered what they are. They always looked like Cow Parsnip from afar, so I never got close to them. I hate Cow Parsnip because I had an accident where I brushed up against one, and it hurt a lot, but luckily, I didn't brush up against it that hard, so it wasn't that bad. But every year, I see more and more Cow Parsnips popping up around the neighborhood, and Yarrow just keeps reminding me of that fact. I figured I should give Yarrows a shot and see what they're really about.
Tribes in North America used yarrows for a variety of ailments (Vizgirdas 4). They would crush the plant and apply it to wounds and burns (Vizgirdas 4). They would also dry the leaves and use them in tea to help with colds, fevers, and headaches (Vizgirdas 4). It has also been used in Europe to brew beer (Vizgirdas 4). Finally, the Chinese consider the Yarrow to be good luck (Vizgirdas 4). I didn't realize the Yarrow had such a rich history to it. This makes me wonder what else there is to explore and find in my neighborhood.
The Yarrow, or milfoil as it is sometimes called, is a member of the aster or composite family (Asteraceae) (Vizgirdas 1). The Yarrow "has flat-topped or dome-shaped clusters of small white flowers that bloom from April to October. An attractive, hardy perennial, yarrow can reach about 3 feet in height" (Vizgirdas 1). The Yarrow is found throughout North America and in selective parts of Europe and Asia (Vizgirdas 2). "The name milfoil comes from its Latin name 'millefolium' meaning 'a thousand leaves'" (Vizgirdas 2).
Overall, the Yarrow turned out to be a lot more interesting than I thought; I was actually debating whether or not to do a different species this week. I really thought that I wouldn't get that much information out of this plant, but I was pleasantly shocked. It goes to show me never to judge a plant by its appearance.
Source:
Vizgirdas, Edna. “U.S. Forest Service.” Plant of the Week, United States Department of Agriculture, www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/achillea_millefolium.shtml. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.
Comentarios
Nice job on your continued work with MLA format, Hannah! There are some small things (as they usually are with MLA!) I need to draw your attention to, however:
1). your source doesn't have page numbers, so you should not include numbers in your parenthetical citation
2). your Works Cited entry is really close, but not quite correct yet
Based on our owl.purdue website, and looking up the section on electronic sources (https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_
sources.html), you would want the page title to be the part in quotation marks, and then the main website to be in italics. In the case of your source it would look like so:
Vizgirdas, Edna. "Plant of the Week: Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)." United States Department of Agriculture [in italics, but iNaturalist doesn't allow for that formatting option], https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/achillea_millefolium.shtml. Accessed 2 Oct. 2203.
Great job on most of the formatting! Continue to check your work against the website, and you'll resolve some of these nit-picky aspects of MLA format.
Also, I'm glad you braved the far-reaching cow parsnip to check out the yarrow!
Best,
Professor Brooke
Hi Hannah, I wonder how many times I have mistaken yarrow for cow parsnip. I enjoyed researching cow parsnip and being able to compare it to your research on yarrow. I am so intrigued by plants that are used medicinally! I wonder how long they have been in use, and who was the first person to find success in applying this plant medicinally! I want to try yarrow tea now. It is a beautiful flower and I will be on the lookout for it now. Thank you!
Hello, Hannah! I have most definitely seen this plant naturally occurring in Juneau too. I love its little white flowers and, if I am not mistaken, they also have a lightly sweet floral scent to them that perfumes the summer air in certain areas of the town I live in. Thank you for including ethnographic information regarding how various unique groups of people traditionally used the plant–I enjoy reading about these details and I found it particularly noteworthy that Yarrow is considered good luck in Chinese culture. Like you, I was unaware that this plant had such a rich history and variety of medicinal history and societal influences. Thank you for sharing and I look forward to seeing more of your observation posts in the future!
I echo Lera! My mind is blown, I think I might have been assuming yarrow was cow parsnip all over my area!! Funny how analogous experience that is to what I've encountered in our reading so far this semester, go in with an open mind and expect to have your mind changed and receive a real education!
Your experience serves as a valuable lesson in the importance of exploring and appreciating the biodiversity that surrounds us, even when it reminds us of past encounters we'd rather forget. Nature has a way of surprising us with its diversity and cultural significance, and Yarrow is a prime example of this. Your curiosity and willingness to delve into its history and uses can lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world in your neighborhood and beyond. It's a testament to the wealth of knowledge waiting to be uncovered in even the most familiar landscapes.
It seems I'm not the only one surprised by Yarrow's qualities and not the only one to mistake it for its visual similarities to cow's parsnip. To be honest, if you asked me what yarrow looked like before I saw your observation, I wouldn't have been able to answer. I've heard of yarrow before in the context of medicinal plants but never thought much of it or paid close enough attention to identify it in the wild. I'm pleasantly surprised to learn of its rich history in many cultures as well as learn how to identify it. Thank you for sharing your observations and research!
Hi Hannah – interesting observation this week. I’ve heard of yarrow root as a spice and possibly a tea? I never realized it was a whole flower with so many other uses. I was really curious to hear what Cow parsnip was so I had to google it after reading your post and it does not sound pleasant! Its amazing what plants are around you that you disregard every day. I posted about a weed that is pretty much everywhere, including my yard where my dogs use the bathroom. I found out it was a natural chamomile and had a ton of uses.
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