''Artemisia'' () is a large, diverse

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of plants with between 200 and 400 species belonging to the daisy family

Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...

. Common names for various species in the genus include

mugwort Mugwort is a common name for several species of aromatic flowering plants in the genus '' Artemisia.'' In Europe, mugwort most often refers to the species ''Artemisia vulgaris'', or common mugwort. In East Asia the species ''Artemisia argyi'' is ...

, wormwood, and

sagebrush Sagebrush is the common name of several woody and herbaceous species of plants in the genus '' Artemisia''. The best known sagebrush is the shrub '' Artemisia tridentata''. Sagebrushes are native to the North American west. Following is an al ...

. ''Artemisia'' comprises hardy herbaceous plants and shrubs, which are known for the powerful chemical constituents in their essential oils. ''Artemisia'' species grow in temperate climates of both hemispheres, usually in dry or semiarid habitats. Notable species include '' A. vulgaris'' (common mugwort), '' A. tridentata'' (big sagebrush), '' A. annua'' (sagewort), '' A. absinthium'' (wormwood), ''A. dracunculus'' (

tarragon Tarragon (''Artemisia dracunculus''), also known as estragon, is a species of perennial herb in the family Asteraceae. It is widespread in the wild across much of Eurasia and North America and is cultivated for culinary and medicinal purposes ...

), and '' A. abrotanum'' (southernwood). The leaves of many species are covered with white hairs. Most species have strong aromas and bitter tastes from

terpenoid The terpenoids, also known as isoprenoids, are a class of naturally occurring organic chemicals derived from the 5-carbon compound isoprene and its derivatives called terpenes, diterpenes, etc. While sometimes used interchangeably with "terpenes" ...

s and sesquiterpene lactones, which discourage

herbivory A herbivore is an animal anatomically and physiologically adapted to eating plant material, for example foliage or marine algae, for the main component of its diet. As a result of their plant diet, herbivorous animals typically have mouthpart ...

, and may have had a selective advantage. The small flowers are

wind-pollinated Anemophily or wind pollination is a form of pollination whereby pollen is distributed by wind. Almost all gymnosperms are anemophilous, as are many plants in the order Poales, including grasses, sedges, and rushes. Other common anemophilous pla ...

. ''Artemisia'' species are used as food plants by the

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. ...

e of a number of Lepidoptera species. Some botanists split the genus into several genera, but DNA analysis does not support the maintenance of the genera ''Crossostephium'', ''Filifolium'', ''Neopallasia'', ''Seriphidium'', and ''Sphaeromeria''; three other segregate genera — ''Stilnolepis'', ''Elachanthemum'', and ''Kaschgaria'' — are maintained by this evidence. Occasionally, some of the species are called sages, causing confusion with the ''

Salvia ''Salvia'' () is the largest genus of plants in the sage family Lamiaceae, with nearly 1000 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. Within the Lamiaceae, ''Salvia'' is part of the tribe Mentheae within the subfamily Nepetoi ...

'' sages in the family Lamiaceae.

Taxonomy

The genus was erected by

Carl Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his Nobility#Ennoblement, ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalise ...

in 1753. The name ''Artemisia'' derives from the Greek goddess

Artemis In ancient Greek mythology and religion, Artemis (; grc-gre, Ἄρτεμις) is the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, nature, vegetation, childbirth, care of children, and chastity. She was heavily identified wit ...

(Roman Diana), the namesake of Greek Queens Artemisia I and II. A more specific reference may be to

Artemisia II of Caria Artemisia II of Caria (Greek: Ἀρτεμισία; died 350 BC) was a naval strategist, commander and the sister (and later spouse) and the successor of Mausolus, ruler of Caria. Mausolus was a satrap of the Achaemenid Empire, yet enjoyed the s ...

, a botanist and medical researcher (also a queen and naval commander), who died in 350 BC.

Selected species

, '' Plants of the World Online'' accepted almost 470 species, including: *''

Artemisia abrotanum ''Artemisia abrotanum'', the southernwood, lad's love, or southern wormwood, is a species of flowering plant in the sunflower family. It is native to Eurasia and Africa but naturalized in scattered locations in North America. Other common name ...

'' L. – southernwood, southern wormwood, slovenwood, abrotanum, old-man, lad's love *''

Artemisia absinthium ''Artemisia absinthium'' (wormwood, grand wormwood, absinthe, absinthium, absinthe wormwood, mugwort, wermout, wermud, wormit, wormod) is a species of '' Artemisia'', native to temperate regions of Eurasia and North Africa, and widely naturalize ...

'' L. – grand wormwood, absinthium *''

Artemisia adamsii Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Besser *''

Artemisia afra ''Artemisia afra'', the African wormwood, /sup> is a common species of the genus '' Artemisia'' in Africa, with a wide distribution from South Africa, to areas reaching to the North and East, as far north as Ethiopia. ''Artemisia afra'' is the on ...

'' Jacq. ex Willd. – African wormwood, African sagebrush *'' Artemisia alaskana'' Rydb. – Alaska wormwood; synonym of ''

Artemisia kruhsiana Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' subsp. ''alaskana'' *'' Artemisia alba'' Turra – camphor southernwood *'' Artemisia aleutica'' Hultén – Aleutian wormwood *'' Artemisia amoena'' Poljakov *'' Artemisia annua'' L. – annual wormwood, sweet sagewort, sweet Annie *'' Artemisia araxina'' Takht. *'' Artemisia arborescens'' L. – tree wormwood *''

Artemisia arbuscula ''Artemisia arbuscula'' is a North American species of sagebrush known by the common names little sagebrush, low sagebrush, or black sagebrush. It is native to the western United States from Washington, Oregon, and California east as far as Color ...

'' Nutt. – little sagebrush, low Sagebrush, black sage *''

Artemisia arctisibirica Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Korobkov *'' Artemisia arenaria'' DC. *''

Artemisia arenicola Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Krasch. ex Poljakov *'' Artemisia argentea'' L'Hér. – Madeira wormwood *'' Artemisia argyi'' H.Lév. & Vaniot – Chinese mugwort *'' Artemisia argyrophylla'' Ledeb. *'' Artemisia armeniaca'' Lam. *'' Artemisia australis'' Less. – Āhinahina, Oahu wormwood *''

Artemisia austriaca ''Artemisia austriaca'' is a species of plants belonging to the family Asteraceae. Its native range is Europe to Western Siberia Western Siberia or West Siberia (russian: Западная Сибирь, Zapadnaya Sibir'; kk, Батыс Сі ...

'' Jacq. *'' Artemisia avarica'' Minat. *'' Artemisia balchanorum'' Krasch. *'' Artemisia baldshuanica'' Krasch. & Zaprjag. *'' Artemisia bargusinensis'' Spreng. *'' Artemisia bejdemaniae'' Leonova *'' Artemisia bhutanica'' Grierson & Spring. *'' Artemisia biennis'' Willd. – biennial sagewort, biennial wormwood *''

Artemisia bigelovii ''Artemisia bigelovii'' is a North American species of sagebrush known by the common name Bigelow sagebrush or flat sagebrush. It grows in the deserts of the southwestern United States. Distribution It is native to California (Inyo + San Bernar ...

'' A.Gray – Bigelow sage, Bigelow sagebrush *''

Artemisia borealis ''Artemisia borealis'' is an arctic and alpine species of plant in the sunflower family, commonly known as northern wormwood, boreal sage, boreal wormwood or boreal sagewort. It is native to high latitudes and high elevations in Eurasia and Nort ...

'' Pall. *'' Artemisia borotalensis'' Poljakov *'' Artemisia caerulescens'' L. *'' Artemisia caespitosa'' Ledeb. *''

Artemisia californica ''Artemisia californica'', also known as California sagebrush, is a species of western North American shrub in the sunflower family. Description ''Artemisia californica'' branches from the base and grows out from there, becoming rounded; it gr ...

'' Less. – coastal sagebrush, California sagebrush *'' Artemisia campestris'' L. – field wormwood, sand wormwood *''

Artemisia cana ''Artemisia cana'' is a species of sagebrush native to western and central North America, a member of the sunflower family. It is known by many common names, including silver sagebrush, sticky sagebrush, silver wormwood, hoary sagebrush, and dwa ...

'' Pursh – silver sagebrush *'' Artemisia capillaris'' Thunb. – capillary wormwood, yin-chen wormwood *'' Artemisia carruthii'' Wood ex Carruth. – Carruth sagewort, Carruth's sagebrush *'' Artemisia chamaemelifolia'' Vill. *''

Artemisia cina ''Artemisia cina'', commonly known as santonica (zahr el shieh el -khorasani), Levant wormseed, and wormseed, is an Asian species of herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae, daisy family. Its dried flowerheads are the source of the Anthelmintic, v ...

'' O.Berg & C.F.Schmidt – santonica, Levant wormseed *'' Artemisia ciniformis'' Krasch. & Popov ex Poljakov *'' Artemisia compacta'' Fisch. ex DC. *''

Artemisia cuspidata Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Krasch. *'' Artemisia czukavinae'' Filatova *'' Artemisia daghestanica'' Krasch. & Poretzky *'' Artemisia demissa'' Krasch. *''

Artemisia deserti Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Krasch. *''

Artemisia desertorum Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Spreng. *'' Artemisia diffusa'' Krasch. ex Poljakov *'' Artemisia dimoana'' Popov *'' Artemisia dolosa'' Krasch. *'' Artemisia douglasiana'' Bess. – Douglas' mugwort, Douglas' sagewort, northwest mugwort *'' Artemisia dracunculus'' L. – tarragon, silky wormwood *'' Artemisia dubia'' Wall. *'' Artemisia dubjanskyana'' Krasch. ex Poljakov *'' Artemisia dumosa'' Poljakov *'' Artemisia elongata'' Filatova & Ladygina *'' Artemisia eremophila'' Krasch. & Butkov ex Poljakov *''

Artemisia fedtschenkoana Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Krasch. *'' Artemisia ferganensis'' Krasch. ex Poljakov *''

Artemisia filifolia ''Artemisia filifolia'', known by common names including sand sagebrush, sand sage and sandhill sage, is a species of flowering plant in the aster family. It is native to North America, where it occurs from Nevada east to South Dakota and fro ...

'' Torr. – sand sagebrush, sand-sage, silvery wormwood *'' Artemisia franserioides'' Greene – ragweed sagebrush *'' Artemisia freyniana'' (Pamp.) Krasch. *''

Artemisia frigida ''Artemisia frigida'' is a widespread species of flowering plant in the aster family, which is known as the sunflower family. It is native to Europe, Asia, and much of North America. In parts of the north-central and northeastern United States ...

'' Willd. – fringed sagebrush, fringed-sage, prairie sagewort, estafiata *'' Artemisia fulvella'' Filatova & Ladygina *'' Artemisia furcata'' Bieb. – forked wormwood *'' Artemisia galinae'' Ikonn. *'' Artemisia genipi'' Weber ex Stechm. *''

Artemisia glacialis ''Artemisia glacialis'', the glacier wormwood, is a species of flowering plant in the aster family. ''Artemisia glacialis'' grows to approximately high, and is indigenous to the Alpine regions of France, Italy, and Switzerland. Uses ''Artemis ...

'' L. – glacier wormwood, alpine mugwort *'' Artemisia glanduligera'' Krasch. ex Poljakov *''

Artemisia glauca ''Artemisia glauca'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Com ...

'' Pall. ex Willd. *'' Artemisia glaucina'' Krasch. ex Poljakov *'' Artemisia globosa'' Krasch. *'' Artemisia globularia'' Cham. ex Bess. – purple wormwood *''

Artemisia glomerata Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Ledeb. – cudweed sagewort, Pacific alpine wormwood *'' Artemisia gmelinii'' Webb ex Stechmann – Gmelin's wormwood, Russian wormwood *''

Artemisia gorgonum ''Artemisia gorgonum'' is a species of flowering plants of the family Asteraceae, endemic to Cape Verde. Its local name is ''losna'' or ''lasna''. The plant plays a role in traditional medicine. Description ''Artemisia gorgonum'' is an aromatic ...

'' Webb *'' Artemisia gracilescens'' Krasch. & Iljin *'' Artemisia granatensis'' Boiss. ex DC. *'' Artemisia gurganica'' (Krasch.) Filatova *'' Artemisia gypsacea'' Krasch., Popov & Lincz. ex Poljakov *'' Artemisia halodendron'' Turcz. ex Besser *'' Artemisia heptapotamica'' Poljakov *''

Artemisia herba-alba ''Artemisia herba-alba'', the white wormwood, is a perennial shrub in the genus '' Artemisia'' that grows commonly on the dry steppes of the Mediterranean regions in Northern Africa (Saharan Maghreb), Western Asia (Arabian Peninsula) and South ...

'' Asso – white wormwood *'' Artemisia hippolyti'' Butkov *'' Artemisia hololeuca'' M.Bieb. ex Besser *'' Artemisia incana'' (L.) Druce *''

Artemisia indica Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Willd. – ''yomogi'' *'' Artemisia insularis'' Kitam. *'' Artemisia integrifolia'' L. *'' Artemisia issykkulensis'' Poljakov *'' Artemisia jacutica'' Drobow *'' Artemisia japonica'' Thunb. – ''otoko yomogi'' *'' Artemisia judaica'' L. *'' Artemisia juncea'' Kar. & Kir. *'' Artemisia karatavica'' Krasch. & Abolin ex Poljakov *'' Artemisia karavajevii'' Leonova *''

Artemisia kaschgarica Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Krasch. *'' Artemisia kauaiensis'' (Skottsberg) Skottsberg – Āhinahina, Kauai wormwood *'' Artemisia keiskeana'' Miq. *'' Artemisia knorringiana'' Krasch. *'' Artemisia kochiiformis'' Krasch. & Lincz. ex Poljakov *'' Artemisia koidzumii'' Nakai *'' Artemisia kopetdaghensis'' Krasch. ex Poljakov *'' Artemisia korovinii'' Poljakov *'' Artemisia korshinskyi'' Krasch. ex Poljakov *''

Artemisia kuschakewiczii Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' C.G.A.Winkl. *'' Artemisia laciniata'' Willd. – Siberian wormwood *'' Artemisia lactiflora'' Wall. ex DC. – white mugwort *'' Artemisia lagocephala'' (Besser) DC. *''

Artemisia lagopus Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Fisch. ex Besser *'' Artemisia latifolia'' Ledeb. *'' Artemisia ledebouriana'' Besser *''

Artemisia lehmanniana Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under t ...

'' Bunge *'' Artemisia lessingiana'' Besser *'' Artemisia leucodes'' Schrenk *'' Artemisia leucophylla'' (Turcz. ex Besser) Pamp. *'' Artemisia leucotricha'' Krasch. ex Ladygina *'' Artemisia lipskyi'' Poljakov *'' Artemisia littoricola'' Kitam. *'' Artemisia longifolia'' Nutt. – longleaf sagebrush, longleaf wormwood *'' Artemisia ludoviciana'' Nutt. – gray sagewort, prairie sage, white sagebrush, Louisiana-sage, western-sage *'' Artemisia macilenta'' (Maxim.) Krasch. *'' Artemisia macrantha'' Ledeb. *'' Artemisia macrocephala'' Jacq. ex Besser *'' Artemisia macrorhiza'' Turcz. *'' Artemisia maritima'' L. – sea wormwood, ''absinthe de mer'' *'' Artemisia marschalliana'' Spreng. *''

Artemisia mauiensis Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' (A.Gray) Skottsberg – ''Āhinahina'', Maui wormwood *'' Artemisia maximovicziana'' Krasch. ex Poljakov *'' Artemisia medioxima'' Krasch. ex Poljakov *'' Artemisia michauxiana'' Bess. – Michaux sagebrush, Michaux's wormwood, lemon sagewort *'' Artemisia minor'' Jacq. ex Besser *'' Artemisia mogoltavica'' Poljakov *'' Artemisia mongolica'' (Besser) Fisch. ex Nakai *''

Artemisia mongolorum Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Krasch. *'' Artemisia montana'' (Nakai) Pamp. *'' Artemisia mucronulata'' Poljakov *''

Artemisia nakaii Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Pamp. *'' Artemisia namanganica'' Poljakov *'' Artemisia negrei'' Ouyahya *''

Artemisia nesiotica ''Artemisia nesiotica'' is a rare California species of sagebrush in the daisy family, known by the common name island sagebrush. It is endemic to the Channel Islands of California, found on 3 of the 8 islands ( San Nicolas, San Clemente, and S ...

'' Raven – island sagebrush *'' Artemisia nigricans'' Filatova & Ladygina *'' Artemisia niitakayamensis'' Hayata *'' Artemisia nilagirica'' (C.B.Clarke) Pamp. *'' Artemisia nitida'' Bertol. *'' Artemisia nortonii'' Pamp. *'' Artemisia norvegica'' Fr. – Norwegian mugwort, alpine sagewort *''

Artemisia nova ''Artemisia nova'' is a North American species of sagebrush, known by the common name black sagebrush. It is "one of the most common shrubs in the western United States". Distribution and habitat The native range of ''Artemisia nova'' is from th ...

'' A.Nels. – black sagebrush, small sagebrush *'' Artemisia obtusiloba'' Ledeb. *'' Artemisia occidentalisichuanensis'' Y.R.Ling & S.Y.Zhao *'' Artemisia occidentalisinensis'' Y.R.Ling *'' Artemisia oelandica'' (Besser) Krasch. *''

Artemisia olchonensis ''Artemisia olchonensis'' is a species of flowering plant in the wormwood genus '' Artemisia'', family Asteraceae, native to Irkutsk Oblast in Russia. It is found only on Olkhon Island Olkhon ( rus, Ольхо́н, also transliterated as Olcho ...

'' Leonova *''

Artemisia oliveriana Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' J.Gay ex Besser *'' Artemisia ordosica'' Krasch. *'' Artemisia orientalixizangensis'' Y.R.Ling & Humphries *'' Artemisia orientaliyunnanensis'' Y.R.Ling *'' Artemisia packardiae'' J.Grimes & Ertter – Packard's wormwood, Succor Creek sagebrush *'' Artemisia palmeri'' A.Gray – San Diego sagewort *'' Artemisia palustris'' L. *'' Artemisia pallens'' Wall *''

Artemisia pannosa Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Krasch. *''

Artemisia papposa ''Artemisia papposa'' is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names Owyhee sage, Owyhee sagebrush, and fuzzy sagebrush. It is native to the Snake River Plain and surrounding areas in the northwestern United States ...

'' S.F.Blake & Cronq. – Owyhee sage, Owyhee sagebrush *'' Artemisia pattersonii'' A.Gray – Patterson's wormwood *'' Artemisia pedatifida'' Nutt. – birdfoot sagebrush, matted sagewort *'' Artemisia pedemontana'' Balb. *'' Artemisia persica'' Boiss. *''

Artemisia phaeolepis Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Krasch. *'' Artemisia pontica'' L. – Roman wormwood, green-ginger *''

Artemisia porrecta Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Krasch. ex Poljakov *''

Artemisia porteri ''Artemisia porteri'' is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common names Porter's sagebrush, Porter's wormwood, and Porter mugwort. It is endemic to Wyoming in the United States, where it is known from Fremont, Johnso ...

'' Cronq. – Porter's wormwood, Porter mugwort *'' Artemisia princeps'' Pamp. – Japanese mugwort, ''yomogi'' *'' Artemisia prolixa'' Krasch. ex Poljak. *'' Artemisia punctigera'' Krasch. ex Poljakov *'' Artemisia pycnocephala'' (Less.) DC. – beach wormwood, coastal sagewort *'' Artemisia pygmaea'' A.Gray – pygmy sagebrush *'' Artemisia quinqueloba'' Trautv. *'' Artemisia remotiloba'' Krasch. ex Poljakov *'' Artemisia rhodantha'' Rupr. *'' Artemisia rigida'' (Nutt.) A.Gray – scabland sagebrush *''

Artemisia rothrockii ''Artemisia rothrockii'' is a North American species of sagebrush known by the common names timberline sagebrush and Rothrock's sagebrush.Artemisia roxburghiana'' Wall. ex Besser *'' Artemisia rubripes'' Nakai *'' Artemisia rupestris'' L. – rock wormwood *'' Artemisia rutifolia'' Stephan ex Spreng. *'' Artemisia saissanica'' (Krasch.) Filatova *'' Artemisia saitoana'' Kitam. *'' Artemisia salsoloides'' Willd. *''

Artemisia samoiedorum Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Pamp. *''

Artemisia saposhnikovii Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Krasch. ex Poljak. *'' Artemisia schmidtiana'' Maxim. – angel's hair *''

Artemisia schrenkiana Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Ledeb. *'' Artemisia scoparia'' Waldst. & Kit. – redstem wormwood, yin-chen wormwood *'' Artemisia scopiformis'' Ledeb. *''

Artemisia scopulorum Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' A.Gray – alpine sagebrush, dwarf sagebrush *'' Artemisia scotina'' Nevski *'' Artemisia semiarida'' (Krasch. & Lavrenko) Filatova *'' Artemisia senjavinensis'' Bess. – arctic wormwood *'' Artemisia sericea'' Weber ex Stechm. *'' Artemisia serrata'' Nutt. – sawtooth wormwood *'' Artemisia sieberi'' Besser *'' Artemisia sieversiana'' Willd. – sieversian wormwood *'' Artemisia spiciformis'' K.Koch *'' Artemisia spicigera'' K.Koch *'' Artemisia spinescens'' D.C.Eaton – budsage yn. ''Picrothamnus desertorum''*'' Artemisia splendens'' Willd. *'' Artemisia stelleriana'' Bess. – hoary mugwort, oldwoman, Dusty Miller, beach wormwood *'' Artemisia stenocephala'' Krasch. ex Poljak. *'' Artemisia subarctica'' Krasch. *''

Artemisia subchrysolepis Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Filatova *'' Artemisia sublessingiana'' Krasch. ex Poljakov *'' Artemisia subsalsa'' Filatova *'' Artemisia succulenta'' Ledeb. *''

Artemisia suksdorfii ''Artemisia suksdorfii'' is a North American species of sagebrush in the sunflower family. It is known by the common names coastal mugwort, coastal wormwood, and Suksdorf sagewort. It is native to coastal regions from British Columbia, Washingto ...

'' Piper – coastal wormwood, Suksdorf sagewort *'' Artemisia sylvatica'' Maxim. *'' Artemisia tanacetifolia'' L. *'' Artemisia taurica'' Willd. – Tauric wormwood *'' Artemisia tenuisecta'' Nevski *''

Artemisia terrae-albae Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Krasch. *'' Artemisia thuscula'' Cav. *''

Artemisia tianschanica Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Krasch. ex Poljak. *'' Artemisia tilesii'' Ledeb. – Tilesius' wormwood, Aleutian mugwort *'' Artemisia tomentella'' Trautv. *'' Artemisia transbaicalensis'' Leonova *'' Artemisia transiliensis'' Poljakov *'' Artemisia trautvetteriana'' Besser *''

Artemisia tridentata ''Artemisia tridentata'', commonly called big sagebrush,MacKay, Pam (2013), ''Mojave Desert Wildflowers'', 2nd ed., , p. 264. Great Basin sagebrush or (locally) simply sagebrush, is an aromatic shrub from the family Asteraceae, which grows in ari ...

'' Nutt. – big sagebrush, blue sage, black sage, basin sagebrush, common sagebrush *''

Artemisia tripartita ''Artemisia tripartita'' is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name threetip sagebrush. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to Nevada and Montana to Colorado. It covers about 8.4 million ...

'' Rydb. – threetip sagebrush *'' Artemisia turanica'' Krasch. *'' Artemisia turcomanica'' Gand. *'' Artemisia umbelliformis'' Lam. – Alps wormwood, alpine wormwood *'' Artemisia vachanica'' Krasch. ex Poljak. *'' Artemisia valida'' Krasch. ex Poljak. *'' Artemisia verlotiorum'' Lamotte – Chinese wormwood *'' Artemisia vulgaris'' L. – mugwort, felonherb, green-ginger, common wormwood *'' Artemisia waltonii'' J.R.Drumm. ex Pamp. *'' Artemisia wudanica'' Liou & W.Wang *'' Artemisia xerophytica'' Krasch. *''

Artemisia yadongensis Artemisia may refer to: People * Artemisia I of Caria (fl. 480 BC), queen of Halicarnassus under the First Persian Empire, naval commander during the second Persian invasion of Greece * Artemisia II of Caria (died 350 BC), queen of Caria under th ...

'' Ling & Y.R.Ling *'' Artemisia yongii'' Y.R.Ling *'' Artemisia younghusbandii'' J.R.Drumm. ex Pamp. *'' Artemisia zayuensis'' Y.R.Ling *'' Artemisia zhongdianensis'' Y.R.Ling

Formerly placed here

*'' Centipeda minima'' (L.) A.Braun & Asch. (as ''A. minima'' L.) *'' Eupatorium capillifolium'' (Lam.) Small (as ''A. capillifolia'' Lam.) *'' Filifolium sibiricum'' (L.) Kitam. (as ''A. sibirica'' (L.) Maxim.) *'' Grangea maderaspatana'' (L.) Poir. (as ''A. maderaspatana'' L.) *'' Matricaria discoidea'' DC. (as ''A. matricarioides'' auct.)

Classification

Classification of ''Artemisia'' is difficult. Divisions of ''Artemisia'' prior to 2000 into subgenera or sections have not been backed up by molecular data, but much of the molecular data, as of 2006, are not especially strong. The following identified groups do not include all the species in the genus.

Subgenera ''Artemisia'' and ''Absinthium''

Subgenera ''Artemisia'' and ''Absinthium'' are sometimes, but not always, considered the same. Subgenus ''Artemisia'' (originally ''Abrotanum'' Besser) is characterized by a heterogamous flower head with female outer florets and hermaphrodite central florets, and a fertile, glabrous receptacle. ''Absinthium'' DC, though sometimes merged with subgenus ''Artemisia'' is characterized by heterogamous flower head with female outer florets and hermaphrodite central florets, and a fertile, hairy receptacle. Generally, previously proposed monotypic and non-monophyletic subgenera have been merged with the subgenus ''Artemesia'' due to molecular evidence. For example, in 2011 using ribosomal DNA analysis of their own and a review of molecular data (such as ITS sequence analysis) of others, S. Garcia and colleagues argued that it was logical to rename several ''Sphaeromeria'' and ''Picrothamnus'' (formerly designated sister genera to ''Artemisia'') species as ''Artemisia'', as well as to revert some ''Sphaeromeria'' species back to ''Artemisia'', where they had been categorized previously. Part of this was due to research by Watson and colleagues, who found that the four subgenera were not monophyletic except for ''Dracunculus,'' after analyzing and matching the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA from many ''Seriphidium'' and ''Artemisia'' species, and the related genera ''Arctanthemum'' and ''Dendranthema''. The authors concluded that inflorescence morphology is not alone reliable for categorizing the genus or some subgenera, as qualities that previously demarcated them (such as homogamous, discoid, ray-less inflorescences) seemed to have undergone paralleled evolution up to seven times. ''Picrothamnus'' Nutt. (“bud sage”), now considered ''Artemisia spinescens'' and ''Sphaeromeria'' Nutt. (“chicken sage”) are some examples, both endemic to North America.

''Tridentatae''

Section ''Tridentatae'' consists of eleven to thirteen species of coarse shrubs often known colloquially as "sagebrushes", which are very prominent parts of the flora in western North America. In some classifications, they have previously been considered part of the genus or subgenus ''Seriphidium'', although recent studies have contested this lineage to Old World species. ''Tridentatae'' was first articulated as a section by Rydberg in 1916, and it was not until McArthur et al. in 1981 that ''Tridentatae'' was elevated to a separate subgenus from ''Seriphidium''. The principal motive for their separation was geographical distribution, chemical makeup, and karyotype. Much of the debate surrounding Tridentatae is phytogeographic, thus habitat and geography are frequently cited when understanding the evolution of this endemic North American subgenus. Evolutionary cycles of wet and dry climates encouraged “diploid and polyploid races which are morphologically similar if not indistinguishable” (McArthur 598). Autopolyploidy among plants is not uncommon, however ''Tridentatae'' exhibits a remarkable amount of chromosomal differences at the population level, rather than the taxon level. This contributes to the difficulty in determining ''Tridentatae's'' phylogeny. The subgenus’ relative homogeneity within ploidies has enabled it to habitually hybridize and backcross, resulting in a high degree of genetic variation at the population level rather than the taxon level. For instance, some articles suggest that to be monophyletic, section ''Tridentatae'' should exclude ''

'' and '' Artemisia palmeri''. and include ''Artemisia pygmaea'' and ''Artemisia rigida''. These results were supported by extensive chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and nrDNA sequencing which departed from prior morphological, anatomical, and behavioral data. Traditional lineages within ''Tridentatae'' were proposed on the basis of leaf morphology, habitat preference, and the ability to leaf-sprout, among other morphological and behavioral characteristics. For instance, sagebrush in the ''Artemisia tridentata'' lineage have tridentate leaves, live in especially arid habitats, and are unable to root-sprout. This method of delimitation is problematic for species that do not fully adhere to the characteristics of a given lineage. The dry habitat and the presence of interxylary cork has often made the case for ''Tridentatae'' as a subgenus of its own, and there is some ribosomal molecular evidence of a “''Tridentatae'' core” group for the subgenus. In 2011, Garcia and colleagues proposed enlarging ''Tridentatae'' and organized it into the sections ''Tridentatae'', ''Nebulosae'', and ''Filifoliae'' based on previous research establishing relationships via ribosomal and nuclear DNA. Intergrading forms are particularly common in recently radiated subgenera such as ''Tridentatae'', given their frequent reversals and

convergent evolution Convergent evolution is the independent evolution of similar features in species of different periods or epochs in time. Convergent evolution creates analogous structures that have similar form or function but were not present in the last com ...

. Global reviews of ''Artemisia'' using ITS analysis support the hypothesis that ''Tridentatae'' has independent origins from Old World ''Seriphidium'' These findings were compared with capitula morphology, challenging past assumptions based on floral characteristics. To better understand the rapid diversification and radiation relative to Old World ''Artemisia'', a closer study of Beriginian or Arctic species may provide missing links. * ''

'' * ''

'' * '' Artemisia rigida'' * ''

'' * '' Artemisia longiloba'' * ''

'' * '' Artemisia pygmaea'' * ''

Artemisia rothrockii ''Artemisia rothrockii'' is a North American species of sagebrush known by the common names timberline sagebrush and Rothrock's sagebrush.Artemisia californica ''Artemisia californica'', also known as California sagebrush, is a species of western North American shrub in the sunflower family. Description ''Artemisia californica'' branches from the base and grows out from there, becoming rounded; it gr ...

'', ''

'', and ''

''.

''Seriphidium''

The Old World species which different classifications put into the genus or subgenus ''Seriphidium'' consist of about 125 species native to Europe and temperate Asia, with the largest number of species in Central Asia. Some classifications, such as that of the Flora of North America, exclude any New World plants from ''Seriphidium''. They are

herbaceous plant Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...

s or small shrubs. ''Seriphidium'' Besser was morphologically categorized by a homogamous flower head with all hermaphrodite florets and fertile and glabrous receptacle. ''Tridentatae'' was originally categorized as within ''Seriphidium'' due to floral, inflorescence, and leaf morphological similarities, until McArthur et al.’s analysis in 1981, which explained these similarities as convergent evolution. Old World ''Seriphidium'', with 125 species native to Europe and temperate Asia, was a previous classification of ''Seriphidium. North American or "New World" Seriphidium and Old World Seriphidium.'' North American ''Seriphidium'' were later placed into ''Tridentatae'' Rydb due to geographical distribution, growth habit, and karyotypic and chemotaxonomic similarities (such as presence of certain terpenols).

Subgenus ''Dracunculus''

One group which is well-supported by molecular data is subgenus ''Dracunculus''. It consists of 80 species found in both North America and Eurasia, of which the best-known is perhaps '' Artemisia dracunculus'', the spice

. ''Dracunculus'' Besser. has historically been characterized morphologically by a heterogamous flower head with female outer florets and hermaphrodite central florets, but with a female-sterile, glabrous receptacle. ''Dracunculus'' is the most supported and resolved subgenus of ''Artemisia'', which includes ''Artemisia'' ''dracunculus'' L., known as the cooking spice tarragon. Chloroplast and ribosomal DNA sequence analysis in 2011 supported monophyly with two clades, one of which includes some North American endemic species as well as most species of Europe and Asia, while the second clade includes just ''A. salsoloides'' and ''A. Tanaitica'', found in Eastern Europe and Siberia to the Western Himalayas. This study places ''Dracunculus'' as one of the more recent subgenera within Artemisia, situating ''A. Salisoides'' more basally on the tree, with North American endemic groups such as the sagebrushes having derived on the other end of a split from a common ancestor with ''Dracunculus''. Formerly proposed genera ''Mausolea'', ''Neopallasia'' and ''Turaniphytum'' are now argued to be within the subgenus ''Dracunculus'' due to ribosomal and chloroplast DNA evidence, with further species resolved as sister groups to ''Dracunculus'' due to phytochemical relationships.

Cultivation and uses

The aromatic leaves of some species are used for flavouring. Most species have an extremely bitter taste. '' A. dracunculus'' (tarragon) is widely used as a

culinary herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

, particularly important in

French cuisine French cuisine () is the cooking traditions and practices from France. It has been influenced over the centuries by the many surrounding cultures of Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium, in addition to the food traditions of the re ...

. '' Artemisia vulgaris'' (mugwort) was used to repel

midges A midge is any small fly, including species in several families of non-mosquito Nematoceran Diptera. Midges are found (seasonally or otherwise) on practically every land area outside permanently arid deserts and the frigid zones. Some midg ...

(mug > midge),

flea Flea, the common name for the order Siphonaptera, includes 2,500 species of small flightless insects that live as external parasites of mammals and birds. Fleas live by ingesting the blood of their hosts. Adult fleas grow to about long, a ...

s and

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

s, intestinal worms, and in

brewing Brewing is the production of beer by steeping a starch source (commonly cereal grains, the most popular of which is barley) in water and #Fermenting, fermenting the resulting sweet liquid with Yeast#Beer, yeast. It may be done in a brewery ...

(mugwort beer, mugwort wine) as a remedy against hangovers and nightmares. ''

'' is used to make the highly potent spirits

absinthe Absinthe (, ) is an anise-flavoured spirit derived from several plants, including the flowers and leaves of ''Artemisia absinthium'' ("grand wormwood"), together with green anise, sweet fennel, and other medicinal and culinary herbs. Historical ...

. Malört also contains wormwood. The aperitif

vermouth Vermouth (, ) is an aromatized fortified wine, flavoured with various botanicals (roots, barks, flowers, seeds, herbs, and spices) and sometimes colored. The modern versions of the beverage were first produced in the mid- to late 18th centur ...

(derived from the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

word ''Wermut'', "wormwood") is a wine flavored with aromatic herbs, but originally with wormwood. Artemisia pycnocephala01

'' Artemisia arborescens'' (tree wormwood, or ''sheeba'' in

Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...

) is an aromatic herb indigenous to the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...

used in tea, usually with

mint MiNT is Now TOS (MiNT) is a free software alternative operating system kernel for the Atari ST system and its successors. It is a multi-tasking alternative to TOS and MagiC. Together with the free system components fVDI device drivers, XaA ...

. A few species are grown as

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that i ...

s, the fine-textured ones used for clipped bordering. All grow best in free-draining sandy soil, unfertilized, and in full sun. '' Artemisia stelleriana'' is known as Dusty Miller, but several other species bear that name, including ''

Jacobaea maritima ''Jacobaea maritima'', commonly known as silver ragwort, is a perennial plant species in the genus ''Jacobaea'' in the family Asteraceae, native to the Mediterranean region. It was formerly placed in the genus ''Senecio'', and is still widely ref ...

'' (syn. ''Senecio cineraria''), '' Silene coronaria'' (syn. ''Lychnis coronaria''), and '' Centaurea cineraria''. The largest collection of living Artemisia species, subspecies and cultivars is held in the National Collection of Artemisia in

Sidmouth Sidmouth () is a town on the English Channel in Devon, South West England, southeast of Exeter. With a population of 12,569 in 2011, it is a tourist resort and a gateway to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. A large part of the town has ...

Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...

, UK , which holds about 400 taxa. The National Collection scheme is administered by Plant Heritage (formerly National Council for Conservation of Plants and Gardens,

NCCPG Plant Heritage, formerly known as the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens (NCCPG), is a botanical conservation organisation in the United Kingdom and a registered charity. It was founded in 1978 to combine the talents of b ...

) in the British Isles.

Medicinal

Artemisinin Artemisinin () and its semisynthetic derivatives are a group of drugs used in the treatment of malaria due to ''Plasmodium falciparum''. It was discovered in 1972 by Tu Youyou, who shared the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for her dis ...

(from '' Artemisia annua'') and derivatives are a group of compounds used to treat

malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...

. Treatments containing an artemisinin derivative ( artemisinin-combination therapies) are now standard treatment worldwide for malaria caused by ''

Plasmodium falciparum ''Plasmodium falciparum'' is a Unicellular organism, unicellular protozoan parasite of humans, and the deadliest species of ''Plasmodium'' that causes malaria in humans. The parasite is transmitted through the bite of a female ''Anopheles'' mosqu ...

''. Administering ''Artemisia annua'' as dried whole leaves may cause resistance to develop more slowly than if it is administered as pure artemisenin. The

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of h ...

does not support the promotion or use of ''Artemisia'' plant material in any form for the prevention or treatment of malaria. They note that the plant form of medication has several problems. These include a lack of consistent ''Artemisia'' content, the content being low enough that recurrence of malaria often occurs, that the use of the plant may contribute to widespread artemisinin resistance, and that the plant form is not effective in malaria prevention. As of June 2020, there is no evidence that ''Artemisia'' can treat or prevent COVID-19.

Culture

''Artemisia'' has been mentioned and used in popular culture for centuries. A few examples are: * ''

'' is thought to be the plant translated as "wormwood" in English language versions of the Bible (''apsinthos'' in the Greek text). Wormwood is mentioned seven times in the

Jewish Bible The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach"
''

New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...

. Wormwood is the "name of the star" in the Book of (''kai to onoma tou asteros legetai ho Apsinthos'') that

John of Patmos John of Patmos (also called John the Revelator, John the Divine, John the Theologian) is the name traditionally given to the author of the Book of Revelation. The text of Revelation states that John was on Patmos, a Greek island where, according ...

envisions as cast by the angel and falling into the waters, making them undrinkably bitter. Further references in the Bible show wormwood was a common herb known for its bitter taste. (, , , , , ) * In Shakespeare's play ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

'', the titular character says "Wormwood, wormwood" to comment on the bitter implications of what the Player Queen has just said.

Ecology

''Artemisia'' species are found on every continent except Antarctica, and have become part of many ecosystems around the world as a result. Below is currently a partial view of the importance of ''Artemisia'' species in ecosystems around the world.

North American ecology of ''Artemisia''

In North America, several species of ''Artemisia'' have become important parts of local environments, with wide adaptability. ''Artemisia papposa'' described by S.F.Blake & Arthur Cronquist can grow in the harsh, dry expanses of alkali flats, but also adapts to meadowlands. Sagebrushes like ''A. papposa'' (of the ''Tridenteae'' subgenus) in general are found in the north and southwest areas of the North American continent. In the Intermountain West, in a habitat known as Sagebrush Steppe, ''A. tridentata'', ''A. tripartite'', and ''A. arbuscula'' grow alongside various grasses and species of bitter bush, creating an important environment for mule deer, pygmy rabbits, antelopes, and the sage grouse. Understanding the phylogenetic relationships among the sagebrushes has been helpful in understanding the relationships among these plants and their environments, as well as learning more about how these plants formed these communities over long stretches of time. Sagebrushes, which include ''A.'' ''ludoviciana'' and ''A. Tridentata'' among others, can often also be found growing near junipers, particularly in the Elkhorn Mountain region, where the Juniper Woodlands form an ecosystem which provide cover for many animal species in both summer and winter months and storms. Because the habitat should burn only every 400–600 years, with sagebrush shrubs living as long as 200 years (though potentially typically 88), this particular combination of ''Artemisia'' with other flora form an enduring habitat. As it often goes, however, governments and farming businesses have often cleared sagebrush-juniper communities to create land for cow and domestic animal feedcrops, and Artemisia species may be declining due to this and invasive species such as cheatgrass. Destabilization of the vegetation creates higher risk of fires, causing concern among the local conservation and wildlife groups. Due to their often extensive rhizome systems and other potential characteristics, however, some Artemisia species are often resilient to mowing or pulling, giving some species of Artemisia the ability to easily become invasive if introduced to comfortable, though non-native habitats. * ''A. annua'' (native to Eurasia) is found in wetland habitats, and though it has been naturalized in much of North America it is considered weedy or invasive by some localities, such as Kentucky. * This is particularly true of ''Artemisia vulgaris'', known as “common mugwort,” in North America, where it was introduced by European colonists and settlers in the 1600s, when Jesuit priests and other colonizers may have first brought the herb for ointments and teas and likely also let into port cities via ballast dumping. A''rtemisia vulgaris'' will grow in dense groups and out-compete other plants in an area, in part due to its ability to grow on poorly enriched soils. Disturbed habitats, cities and roadsides or parking lots can easily become a field of ''A. vulgaris'', which is the Artemisia species designated as invasive by New York State.