The tall ferny foliage and heads of yellow button flowers have an extremely pungent scent and bitter taste. Leaves were once used as a tonic, and early spring greens in omelets and custards but this is not recommended as it tastes terrible and too much can be toxic. Its main medicinal uses have been to treat digestive problems, fevers, jaundice and to expel worms. Leaves were used to wrap meat as a preservative and to repel flies before refrigeration. Reputed ant repellent leaves placed in pet's bedding will repel flies. The essential oil is an effective mosquito and tick repellant. The flowers are excellent in dried arrangements. Produces a golden yellow dye. This can spread aggressively by rhizomes where happy but it is easily controlled as its roots are shallow.