Thunberg's yarrow (Fritillaria thunbergii)

Thunberg's yarrow, also known as Butterfly bush or Summer lilac, is a perennial plant belonging to the Yarrow genus. It is native to China and Japan and is an endangered species due to over-harvesting for use in traditional Chinese medicine. The plant grows to a height of 30-60 cm and develops a one-sided cluster of tiny white flowers. It flowers from March to May and produces small bulb-like achenes after flowering.

Fritillaria thunbergii is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, especially for its purported medicinal properties. Its bulbs contain a number of active substances that have antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory and antitumour effects. Chinese medicine therefore often uses it in the treatment of asthma, coughs, bronchitis and some cancers. Various medicinal teas, pills or ointments are also made from Thunberg's yarrow bulbs. However, this is not a commonly available plant, but a specific species with a limited range, the collection of which is strictly regulated. For this reason, the plant is threatened with extinction in the wild. This is one of the reasons why the possibility of plantation cultivation has been intensively explored in recent years.