Achillea alpina

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A shrub or small tree. It grows 5 m tall. There are prickles along the stem. The leaves are twice divided and there are 8-18 pairs of pinnae. There are up to 50 pairs of pinnules on each pinnae. The flowers are yellow. They are in large clusters at the ends of branches. The pods are flattened.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. In north China it grows in grasslands on mountain slopes and in river valleys between 800-2,400 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Canada, China, Himalayas, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Nepal, North America, Russia, USA

How it is used for food

The young leaves are eaten in porridge.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Toppul

Synonyms

Ptarmica mongolica (Fisch.) DC.