Sneezewort |
Flower heads, leaf and mucronate leaf teeth, which should trigger the sneeze when the blade is inserted into the nose
| Achillea ptarmica L.: | |
| Blooming period: | July–September |
| Height | 30–100 cm |
| Flowers: | in heads, Ø of the heads approx. 1,5 cm, stamens: 5, styles: 1 |
| Ray florets: | white |
| Disc florets: | whitish |
| Calyx: | missing |
| Stem leaves: | alternate, simple, linear-lanceolate |
| Basal leaves: | at the flowering season missing |
Plant perennial, with rootstock (rhizome). Rhizome creeping, tough and strong.
Stem erect, round, soft pubescent at the top, simple or branched above the middle.
Stem leaves sessile, oblong to linear-lanceolate, at the base of the stem half-clasping, serrate, leaf teeth mucronate. Upper leaf surface shiny and glabrous, sometimes hairy on the undersides.
The flower heads are on 5-40 mm long, leafless stalks in a loose umbellated panicle, the receptacle is slightly convex.
Phyllaries in about 3 rows, with membranous margins, hairy, pale green with a yellow-green midrib, brownish at the base and at the top.
Ray florets 8–12, off-white, female. Ligules about as long as wide (4–5 mm), at the apex with 3 teeth.
Disk florets approx. 60, bisexual, gray-white, at the base with a lance-shaped chafflike bract.
Pollination by flies, bees, bumblebees, butterflies and beetles. From the inferior ovary are formed up to 2 mm long, flattened nut fruits (achenes).
Plants with an aromatic scent, especially when rubbed.
| Floral formula: |
| ↓ K0 C(5) G(2) inferior
and * K0 [C(5) A5(verklebt)] G(2) inferior |
Occurrence:
Banks
of rivers and streams, marshes, wet meadows. Prefers sunny, warm,
pretty damp and nutrient-poor locations.
Distribution:
Europe
and Asia, introduced in North America.