''Artemisia douglasiana'', known as California mugwort, Douglas's sagewort, or dream plant, is a western North American species of aromatic herb in the sunflower family.Flora of North America Vol. 19, 20 and 21 Page 524 Northwest mugwort, Douglas sagewort Artemisia douglasiana Besser in W. J. Hooker, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 323. 1833.
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Distribution and habitat

The

herbaceous perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widel ...

is native to the Western United States in California and areas of Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington; and in northwestern Baja California, Mexico. The plant prefers direct sunlight and moist soils, but tolerates shady areas and dry soils. It occupies hardiness zones 6a to 10b and occurs at elevations ranging from 0–3080 meters. ''A. douglasiana'' is often found in ditches and streambanks.

Description

''Artemisia douglasiana'' is

dicot The dicotyledons, also known as dicots (or, more rarely, dicotyls), are one of the two groups into which all the flowering plants (angiosperms) were formerly divided. The name refers to one of the typical characteristics of the group: namely, t ...

, and a perennial forb. Its stems grow from a substantial colony of rhizomes which require a minimum soil depth of 16 cm and can grow in fine to coarse soils. The stems grow erect and range in height from . Its grey-green leaves are evenly spaced, elliptical, and lobed at the tips. The appearance of the 3–5 lobes at the tips of its leaves may range from being seemingly absent to being highly defined. Its leaves have been shown to contain thujone and cineole. During its bloom period, which ranges from May to October, the plant features bell-shaped clusters of flowers containing 5–9

pistillate Gynoecium (; ) is most commonly used as a collective term for the parts of a flower that produce ovules and ultimately develop into the fruit and seeds. The gynoecium is the innermost whorl of a flower; it consists of (one or more) ''pistils'' ...

flowers and 6–25 disk flowers. Although ''A. douglasiana'' can reproduce from seed, it is primarily propagated from division and spreading of its underground

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...

s. The extensive rhizomes help prevent erosion by stabilizing streambanks. ''A. douglasiana'' is susceptible to infection by '' Xylella fastidiosa'' which causes Pierce's disease.

Uses

Its seeds are foraged by a variety of native birds and its leaves are used as nesting material by some native bees.NPIN−Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: ''Artemisia douglasiana'' (Douglas mugwort, Douglas' sagewort)
/ref> ''Artemisia douglasiana'' is used by Native American tribes as a medicinal plant to relieve joint pain and

headache Headache is the symptom of pain in the face, head, or neck. It can occur as a migraine, tension-type headache, or cluster headache. There is an increased risk of depression in those with severe headaches. Headaches can occur as a result ...

s, and to treat abrasions and rashes (including poison ivy). It is also used to treat women's reproductive issues, including irregular menstruation and is occasionally used as an

abortifacient An abortifacient ("that which will cause a miscarriage" from Latin: ''abortus'' "miscarriage" and '' faciens'' "making") is a substance that induces abortion. This is a nonspecific term which may refer to any number of substances or medications, ...

. This plant also has ceremonial and spiritual purposes for many tribes. It is commonly carried to ward off spirits of the dead and was smoked or drunk as a tea to induce vivid dreams. It is also planted by contemporary herbalists for both medicinal and spiritual uses.

Cultivation

''Artemisia douglasiana'' is cultivated as an ornamental plant by specialty native plant nurseries, for planting in wildlife gardens, natural landscaping design, and habitat restoration and

erosion control Erosion control is the practice of preventing or controlling wind or water erosion in agriculture, land development, coastal areas, river banks and construction. Effective erosion controls handle surface runoff and are important techniques in ...

projects.Las Pilitas Horticulture Database: ''Artemisia douglasiana'' (California mugwort)
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References

External links

Jepson Manual Treatment — 'Artemisia douglasiana''University of Michigan-Dearborn: Ethnobotany of California mugwortLady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, University of Texas
{{Taxonbar, from=Q470093 douglasiana Flora of the Northwestern United States Flora of Baja California Flora of California Flora of Nevada Flora of the Cascade Range Flora of the Great Basin Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States) Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Natural history of the Santa Monica Mountains Natural history of the Central Valley (California) Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges Natural history of the Transverse Ranges Medicinal plants Plants used in traditional Native American medicine Plants described in 1833 Garden plants of North America Taxa named by Wilibald Swibert Joseph Gottlieb von Besser