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Fort Scott NHS

GRASSES

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Description: Unbranched, hairy plants typical 1 1/2' tall, with alternate, aromatic, finely divided leaves that appear feathery and fern like. The leaves are up to 6" long and 1" wide. Basal leaves are on stalks, while all but the lowest stem leaves are stalkless. Flower heads are in a flat, branching cluster at the top of the plant. The heads contain about 5 white petal-like ray flowers surrounding a central disk with mostly 10-20 small, tubular, yellowish disk flowers.

Late spring-fall.

Comments: Yarrow is native to Eurasia as well as North America. The plant contains antiseptic properties and its name comes from Achilles, who used the plant to heal wounds of his warriors. Besides being used to pack wounds, it was used for a variety of other medicinal purposes, including treatment of tooth and ear aches.

Description: A perennial herb 8-35" tall, growing from egg-shaped bulbs with a strong onion odor. Two or more leaves, basal, linear,1/16-1/8" wide, shorter than flowering stems. Flowers small, in round clusters at tops of erect stems often replaced by bulblets.

Spring-fall.

Comments: Allium is the ancient name for garlic. It is derived from the Celtic "all" meaning pungent. The species name canadense means "of Canada." The bulbs were used as food, raw, cooked, or pickled. The leaves were eaten either raw or cooked.