Tanacetum

Tanacetum is a genus of about 70 species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Common names include Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare; sometimes called Common Tansy or Garden Tansy) and Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium); several other species are also known as tansies. Other common names include Bachelor's Buttons, Bitter Buttons, Boerenwormkruid, Buttons, Ginger Plant, Gold-buttons, Ponso, Solucanotu, Tanaceto, Tansy, Yomogi-Giku.

The name tansy is also sometimes given, improperly, (e.g. in the western United States) to ragwort, because in those areas ragwort is known as "tansy ragwort".

Tanacetum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species.


Species
Tanacetum vulgare - Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is a perennial herbaceous flowering plant of the aster family that is native to temperate Europe and Asia. It has been introduced to other parts of the world and in some cases has become invasive. It is also known as Common Tansy, Bitter Buttons, Cow Bitter, Mugwort, or Golden Buttons.
Tansy is a flowering herbaceous plant with finely divided compound leaves and yellow, buttonlike flowers. It has a stout, somewhat reddish, erect stem, usually smooth, 50-150 cm tall, and branching near the top. The leaves are alternate, 10-15 cm long and are pinnately lobed, divided almost to the center into about seven pairs of segments or lobes which are again divided into smaller lobes having saw-toothed edges, thus giving the leaf a somewhat fernlike appearance. The roundish, flat-topped, buttonlike, yellow flower heads are produced in terminal clusters from mid to late summer. The scent is similar to that of camphor with hints of rosemary. The leaves and flowers are said to be poisonous if consumed in large quantities. The plant's volatile oil is high in thujone, a substance found in absinthe that can cause convulsions. Some insects, notably the tansy beetle, have evolved resistance to tansy and live almost exclusively on it.
Culinary uses: Tansy was formerly used as a flavoring for puddings and omelets, but is almost unknown now. It was certainly relished in days gone by, for Gerarde speaks of them as "pleasant in taste", and he recommends tansy sweetmeats as "an especial thing against the gout, if every day for a certain space a reasonable quantitie thereof be eaten fasting". In Yorkshire, tansy and caraway seeds were traditionally used in biscuits served at funerals.

Tanacetum balsamita is a perennial temperate herb known as Costmary, Alecost or Balsam herb. It has been grown for many centuries for its pleasant, slightly medicinal or balsamic smell. It was used in medieval times as a place marker in bibles. It is referred to by Culpeper and others as the 'Balsam Herb'. Leaves of the plant have been found to contain a range of essential oils.

Tanacetum parthenium - Feverfew is a traditional medicinal herb which is found in many old gardens, and is also occasionally grown for ornament; which are then used in Christmas trees. The plant grows into a small bush up to around 18 inches high, with citrus-scented leaves and is covered by flowers reminiscent of daisies. It spreads rapidly, and they will cover a wide area after a few years.

Tanacetum ptarmiciflorum is a shrub with silvery leaves, of the family Asteraceae. It is known as a decorative plant. It is commonly known as the Silver Lace Bush, its origin known to be in the Canary Islands. This subject is endangered in the wild, and is an attractive shrubby perennial It is suited to dry climates and likes a lot of sun, and thoroughly drained soil.

Tanacetum bipinnatum

Tanacetum abrotanifolium

Tanacetum potentilloides

Tanacetum poteriifolium

Tanacetum praeteritium

Tanacetum procreatrix

Tanacetum argenteum

Tanacetum atkinsonii

Tanacetum camphoratum

Tanacetum haradjanii

Tanacetum corymbosum

Tanacetum densum

Tanacetum huronense

Tanacetum macrophyllum

Tanacetum nuttallii

Tanacetum compactum

Tanacetum douglasi

Tanacetum ferulaceum

Tanacetum achilleifolium

Tanacetum parthenifolium

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