''Artemisia princeps'', also called Yomogi, Japanese mugwort, Korean wormwood, Korean mugwort or first wormwood in English, is an Asian plant species in the sunflower family, native to

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

and Korea. It is a perennial, very vigorous plant that grows to 1.2 meters. This species spreads rapidly by means of underground

stolons In biology, stolons (from Latin '' stolō'', genitive ''stolōnis'' – "branch"), also known as runners, are horizontal connections between organisms. They may be part of the organism, or of its skeleton; typically, animal stolons are external s ...

and can become invasive. It bears small, buff-colored flowers from July to November which are hermaphroditic, and pollinated by wind. The leaves are feather shaped, scalloped and light green, with white dense fuzz on the underside.

Distribution and habitat

''Artemisia princeps'' is native to

and Korea. It has been introduced into Belgium and the Netherlands. It grows in a variety of habitats including roadsides, slopes, valleys, and riverbanks.

Uses

Culinary

Leaves and young seedlings can be eaten raw or cooked. They can also be used in salads and soups after removal of the bitterness.

Japan

In Japan the herb is used to flavor

glutinous rice Glutinous rice (''Oryza sativa var. glutinosa''; also called sticky rice, sweet rice or waxy rice) is a type of rice grown mainly in Southeast and East Asia, and the northeastern regions of South Asia, which has opaque grains, very low amylose ...

dumplings called ''

kusa mochi Kusa or KUSA may refer to: * Kusa, Russia, a town in Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia * Kusa, Latvia, a village in Madona District, Latvia * Kusa, Oklahoma, United States * Kusa, indigenous name of Beles River (in Gumuz language) * Kusa, Afghanistan ...

'' () or ''yomogi mochi'' (), or rice flour dumplings called ''kusa dango'' (). The young leaves can be lightly boiled before being pounded and added to which they give a pleasant colour, aroma and flavour. Because of this use, the ''Artemesia'' plant is also called ''mochigusa'' (, though it is also called ''mogusa'' in reference to its use in moxibustion). The plant is also actively grown in the state of Hawaii, and used for making the herbal ''mochi'' by residents of Japanese descent. The leaves are occasionally blanched and added to soups or rice in Japanese cuisine.

Korea

Mugwort, referred to as ''ssuk'' (쑥) in Korean, is widely used in

Korean cuisine Korean cuisine has evolved through centuries of social and political change. Originating from ancient agricultural and nomadic traditions in Korea and southern Manchuria, Korean cuisine reflects a complex interaction of the natural envi ...

as well as in traditional medicine (''hanyak''). In spring, which is the harvesting season, the young leaves of mugwort are used to prepare savory dishes such as '' jeon'' (Korean-style pancakes), '' ssuk kimchi'', (쑥김치), '' ssukguk'' (쑥국, soup made with ''ssuk''). Most commonly, however, fresh mugwort as well as dried leaves ground into powder are a characteristic ingredient in various types of '' tteok'' (rice cakes). Today, ''ssuk'' also adds flavor and color to more contemporary desserts and beverages, e.g. ice cream, breads, cakes, mugwort tea (''ssukcha'' 쑥차) and ''ssuk'' latte (쑥라떼). Artemisia princeps.jpg, ''Ssuk'' (Korean mugwort) Aetang 2.jpg, ''Ae

tang Tang or TANG most often refers to: * Tang dynasty * Tang (drink mix) Tang or TANG may also refer to: Chinese states and dynasties * Jin (Chinese state) (11th century – 376 BC), a state during the Spring and Autumn period, called Tang (唐) b ...

'' (mugwort dumpling soup) Ssuk-beomuri 2.jpg, ''Ssuk- beomuri'' (mugwort rice cakes) Ssuktteok.jpg, ''Ssuk tteok'' (mugwort rice cakes) Ssukcha.jpg, ''

Ssukcha ''Ssukcha'' (), also called mugwort tea or wormwood tea, is a traditional Korean tea made from Korean mugwort (called ''ssuk'' () in Korean). It is commonly consumed in both North and South Korea. Preparation The preparation involves leave ...

'' (mugwort tea)

Medicinal

''Artemisia princeps'' is one of the species of mugwort used as in moxibustion, a traditional medical practice of

, Korea, Mongolia, Tibet, Nepal and Vietnam.

China

In China it is known as ''huanghua ai'' (, literally yellow-flower mugwort).

Culture

In Korea, it is called ''ssuk'' (쑥) or ''tarae ssuk'' (타래쑥) which is deeply related to Dangun Sinhwa (단군신화), legend of Gojoseon, the first Korean kingdom. To the ancient people in Korea, ''ssuk'' was one of the foods that was believed to have medicinal or religious value. In the foundation myth of Gojoseon in 2333 BCE, eating nothing but 20 cloves of

garlic Garlic (''Allium sativum'') is a species of bulbous flowering plant in the genus ''Allium''. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, Allium fistulosum, Welsh onion and Allium chinense, Chinese onion. It is native to South A ...

and a bundle of ''ssuk'' for 100 days let a bear be transformed into a woman.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q1076280 princeps Medicinal plants of Asia Korean vegetables Plants described in 1930 Flora of China Flora of Eastern Asia