Achillea ageratum, also known as sweet yarrow, sweet-Nancy, English mace, or sweet maudlin, is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower family.
Description The plant grows to a height of . A hardy perennial, it can be identified by its narrow and serrated leaves, and clusters of small flowers.
Taxonomy The plant was first given a species name by Carl Linnaeus and published in his Species Plantarum 1753.
Etymology Achillea is a reference to the Greek hero Achilles, who was trained to use herbs by his mentor, the centaur Chiron. The flowers last for a relatively long period, hence the inclusion of ageratum in the species name.
Distribution and habitat The species is native to southern Europe and Morocco.
In the United States, the plant is cultivated in the state of New York and sparingly naturalized in a few places outside its native range.Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map
Uses The leaves can be chopped and used raw as a herb, or added with other herbs to soups and stews. Modern uses of the herb include its use as a flavouring, as a dried flower, and as an ornamental herb.
In the Middle Ages it was used as a strewing herb to repel insects such as moths, lice and ticks and spread a good smell in private rooms.
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