Common Tansy vs Polynesian rat

Tanacetum vulgare compared with Rattus exulans

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Tansy	Polynesian rat
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Asterales (Daisies & Sunflowers)	Rodentia (Rodents)
Family	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)	Muridae (Mice & Rats)
Genus	Tanacetum	Rattus
Species	Tanacetum vulgare	Rattus exulans

Conservation Status

Common Tansy

LC — Least Concern

Polynesian rat

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Tansy	Polynesian rat
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Tansy

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial habitats from tropical forests to temperate regions.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (China, Japan), Europe (13 countries), North America (Canada, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (4 countries).

Polynesian rat

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, among 4 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Indomalayan realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (6 countries), Europe (United Kingdom), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (11 countries), and South America (Chile).

Common Tansy

<em>Tanacetum vulgare</em>, common tansy, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae, native to temperate regions of Asia and Europe and widely naturalized across North America, Australia, and South America. It typically grows in disturbed habitats, roadsides, riverbanks, and waste ground, forming dense colonies through vigorous rhizome spread. The plant bears deeply divided, fernlike leaves and clusters of bright yellow, button-like flower heads in late summer. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List given its expansive, growing range. Common tansy contains toxic compounds including thujone and camphor, making it poisonous to livestock and humans in large quantities, though historically it was used as a culinary herb and medicinal plant. Its strong aromatic scent has traditionally been used as an insect repellent. The species is considered invasive in several regions outside its native range. It provides nectar and pollen for various insects. Biological traits such as precise seed output figures, individual lifespan, and biomass data remain poorly documented in standardized assessments.