Artemisia L. (1753), sage brush, in the family Compositae, contains around 350 species mainly in dry parts of the northern hemisphere.

Description Shrubs to 2m, usually less. The leaves are very aromatic, alternate, often with long, narrow segments, usually greyish or silvery, hairy. The flowerheads are greenish or brownish, without rays. Phyllaries in 1 or 2 rows, usually papery on the edges. Florets all bisexual, or the outer sometimes female. Stamens 5. Ovary inferior, with 1 cell and 1 ovule; style 1, forked and recurved. Pollination is by wind. The fruits are 1-seeded, usually flattened or ribbed, and without a pappus.

Key Recognition Features The greyish, divided, aromatic leaves on a rounded bush with small flowerheads.

Evolution and Relationships Artemisia is related to the florists’ chrysanthemum Dendranthema (DC) Des Moules.

Ecology and Geography On cliffs and dry slopes, often dominant in cold, semi-desert areas; many species are salt-tolerant and found in coastal habitats. The range is mainly in North America and Asia, with 1 species in South Africa.

Comment Several species and many cultivars are grown for ornament. The cultivar ‘Powis Castle’ is probably a hybrid of the Mediterranean A. arborescens L.. The herb tarragon is A. dracunculus L., a herbaceous species with narrow, almost undivided leaves. Artemisia absinthium L. is used to flavour absinthe.