planted to combat soil erosion due to the plant's resistance to drought. Before the arrival of monocultures of ryegrass, both grass and pasture contained A. millefolium at a density of about 0.3 kg/ha. One factor for its use in grass mixtures was its deep roots, with leaves rich in minerals, minimizing mineral deficiencies in ruminant feed. It was introduced into New Zealand as a drought-tolerant pasture. Some pick-up sticks are made of yarrow. Yarrow can be used for dying wool as it contains apigenin and luteolin. Depending on the mordant the color may be green to yellow. Culture In antiquity, the plant was known as herba militaris for its use in stanching the flow of blood from wounds. Other names implying its historical use in healing—particularly in the military—include bloodwort, knight's milfoil, staunchweed, and, from its use in the US Civil War, soldier's woundwort. Its use in either starting or stopping nosebleeds led to the common name nosebleed. For its association with the Abrahamic devil it was called bad man's plaything, devil's nettle, and devil's plaything. It was called old man's pepper due to its pungent flavor, while the name field hop came from its use in beer making in Sweden. Greece In the Classical Greek epic Iliad, Homer tells of the centaur Chiron, who conveyed herbal secrets to his human pupils and taught Achilles to use yarrow on the battlegrounds of Troy. China Yarrow and tortoiseshell are considered to be lucky in Chinese tradition. The stalks are dried and used as a randomising agent in I Ching divination. Ireland and Great Britain In the Hebrides a leaf held against the eyes was sometimes believed to give second sight. In Sussex and Devonshire superstition, yarrow was used for finding one's real sweetheart. One would pluck yarrow growing on a young man's grave while reciting: Yarrow, sweet yarrow, the first that I have found,in the name of Jesus Christ, I pluck it from the ground;As Joseph loved sweet Mary, and took her for his dear,so in a dream this night, I hope, my true love will appear. and go to sleep with the yarrow under the pillow. In a similar tradition in Wicklow, girls would pick yarrow on Hallow Eve and recite: Thou pretty herb of Venus' tree,Thy true name is yarrow;Now who my bosom friend may be,Pray tell thou me to-morrow. then retire for the night without speaking and go