ARTEMISIA: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, CULTIVATION, SPECIES - BIOLOGY - 2025

Artemisia is a genus of plants belonging to the Asteraceae family made up of herbs or small shrubs, which groups approximately 400 species with similar morphological characters. Most of these herbs or shrubs are perennial and grow in vast steppes of Asia, America and South Africa.

This genus is highly involved with wildlife forms from tall grasses to dwarf grasses that thrive in alpine areas. Therefore, they grow in a variety of environments such as the arctic alps, mountainous environments or even in deserts.

Tarragon (plant of the genus Artemisia). Source: pixabay.com

However, there are many species that have not yet been described and a global revision of the genus is awaited. At this point the role of systematics is important.

Mugwort plants are generally known for being used as aromatic plants, although some species, such as tarragon, are also used in culinary arts, and others are used with antibiotic and pharmaceutical effects.

These plants are very resistant to pest attack. Therefore, thanks to its allelopathic effect, both its parts and its extracts are used as repellants for insects or important crop pests.

characteristics

Habit

The Artemisia genus groups herbs and small shrubs, whose characteristic is to be aromatic plants. They may have a creeping or airborne habit.

Leaves

The leaves of these plants are arranged alternately. Depending on the species, the leaves are short or elongated. As well as, some species have a petiole and others do not.

flowers

On the other hand, the flowers of the plants of this genus are all tubular, arranged in small, racemose, paniculate or capitulate inflorescences. It is not common to find solitary flowers.

They have a receptacle between flat and hemispherical. Basically they differ within the asteraceae because their chapters only have florets, and the bracts of the involucre have a papyraceous border. Furthermore, the receptacle has no scales.

Likewise, pollination occurs by anemophilia (through the wind). In this sense, the anatomical structure of pollen has been an important characteristic of Artemisia species.

For example, the characteristics of the complex and intertwined branches of the basal columella of the pollen grain, as well as the tiny size of this grain, have been studied to consider them as differences between tribes.

Flowers of Artemisia vulgaris. Source: pixabay.com

Taxonomy

Regarding taxonomy, it has been possible to group the plants of this genus into different groups, thanks to the fundamental morphological characters of the floral structure. Likewise, a classification has been made according to the phylogeny of these plants. Consequently, they have been divided into the following groups:

- Abrotanum and Absinthium: in these sections the most primitive representatives of this genus are located.

- Dracunculus and Seriphidium: the most evolved representatives are located in these sections.

The herbs of the Seriphidium group are endemic to North America, and have been arranged in a group closely related to and distinct from the Seriphidium plants of the Old World.

The taxonomic classification for this genus is as follows:

Kingdom: Plantae.

Class: Equisetopsida.

Subclass: Magnoliidae.

Superorder: Asteranae.

Order: Asterales.

Family: Asteraceae.

Genus: Artemisia L.

Habitat and distribution

Plants of this genus can grow in various environments such as mountains, alps, even the driest deserts. They are frequently found in the steppes of Asia, South Africa and the New World.

Some of the countries in America and other places where it is found are Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, the United States and Australia.

Regarding their distribution, China has more than 150 species, Japan about 50 and in the former Soviet Union up to 174 have been reported. For its part, in the European region about 57 species have been recognized, while in America some 30.

The floristic landscapes of western North America, towards southern Canada and northern Mexico, are mostly dominated by the so-called artemisia communities. The conditions that are normally obtained in these areas dominated by this genus of plants are of an annual rainfall between 20 and 35 cm, as occurs predominantly in winter.

These communities can dominate vast stretches of semi-arid grasslands, where community renewal processes occur in the wild or naturally.

Tarragon is a plant used as a spice. Source: pixabay.com

Culture

Many mugwort plants can be used as arable. This requires certain care:

• Transplant them once a year because they grow quickly.
• Expose them directly to light so that they can develop properly.
• Water them once a week or twice according to the temperature conditions of the site.
• Avoid bird attack by using a plastic net when the plants are young.
• Prune them in the month of April. In addition, it is an advantage that any type of land can be used to cultivate them.

For a nice cultivation of these plants, it is recommended to sow them together with others such as lavender and fennel. These plants, especially mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) which is one of the most cultivated, can grow well in soils with neutral pH and with a sandy and clay texture. The compost should be applied during the spring.

Species

Artemisia abrotanum

It is better known as abrótano, and it is an aromatic-bitter plant, whose leaves and flowers have medicinal, culinary, liquor and perfume industry use. In pharmaceuticals it is known as abrótano herb. It is available in Europe, especially in Italy.

It is a shrubby species that has a high reputation for being used as an antiseptic, anthelmintic, as an emmenagogue, antipyretic, appetite stimulant, spasmolytic and choleretic. For this last effect, it has been determined that compounds such as coumarin, isofraxidine, scopoletin and umbelliferone are responsible.

While flavonols, casticin, centaureidine and quercetin have spasmolytic activity, since they are used for the treatment of diseases of the bronchial tubes.

This species does well in soils with acidic, neutral and alkaline pH, it can even withstand nutrient-poor soils. Regarding the texture of the soil, this shrub grows in sandy, loamy or clay soils, which can be kept both dry and humid.

Artemisia absinthium

This plant, commonly known as absinthe, is found in the Mediterranean area, Europe, Asia and North Africa. As their main characteristic they have a penetrating odor, being widely used as an intensely bitter aromatic.

Its main uses are as a tonic, diaphoretic, anthelmintic, antibacterial, antipyretic, emmenagogue and in the perfume industry. Contains flavonoids such as artemisitin, polyacetylenes, pelanolides, and phenylcarbolic acids.

Common wormwood. Source: pixabay.com

Artemisia annua

It is a plant whose origin is in Asia, specifically China. In particular, in Asian countries it is known as qinghaosu. Regarding its morphology, it is considered a shrub with a height ranging from 30 to 250 cm, depending on the agronomic conditions of growth, especially the population density.

It has cylindrical stems 0.2 to 0.6 cm in diameter and its branches can be 30 to 80 cm long. It has bipinnate leaves devoid of pubescence. It is a short-day plant (requires approximately 13 hours of light per day).

This plant is considered very effective against malaria, being especially popular in traditional Chinese medicine. Of it, aerial parts are used to combat infectious diarrhea, as antipyretic and antiparasitic.

Artemisia ramosa

This shrub is the result of the endemism of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands. It differs from the other sagebrush species because its leaves are alternate and petiole.

They are also bipinnatisect, with linear and cylinder-shaped lobes, as well as ovoid chapters. It is commonly known as Moorish incense. The word ramosa indicates the abundant and characteristic branching of this species.

Artemisia dracunculus

This plant is known as tarragon, being very popular in culinary use. It is one of the most popular mugwort plants, both for the ornamental beauty it exudes and for its useful properties in the kitchen.

Tarragon is a perennial herb that can live for more than ten years, being native to central Asia and Siberia. This plant is also known as dragoncillo or tarragón. It can reach a height between 0.6 to 1.2 m; it has long, thin leaves of a dark green shade that can be about 7.5 cm long.

You can find tarragon in two types: French, which has a fine aroma and a sweet taste like anise, without being bitter. And, the Russian tarragon (Artemisia dracunculoides), which is more bitter but more resistant.

For its care, ecological fertilizers such as guano or manure should be used, providing greater value from the natural point of view for human consumption.

Artemisia reptans

This species is native to the Canary Islands which, unlike other sagebrush species, shows a creeping bearing. It reaches 30 cm in height and has fairly short leaves, without petioles and fasciculate. It is commonly known as small or amuley incense.

In addition, it is a protected species since 2010 because it is considered of interest to the Canarian ecosystems. In this case, the word reptans comes from the Latin reptare, and means to crawl, which gives an indication of the type of life of this plant.

Artemisia thuscula

Like A. ramosa, it is endemic to the Canary Islands. It differs from other species by the characteristics of the leaves, which have flat lobes, are alternate and with petioles; furthermore, its chapters are globose in shape and yellow in color. It is commonly known as incense.

Artemisia ludoviciana

This species is a robust perennial herb that reaches a height between 1 and 1.5 m. It has one stem or many stems from a rhizomatous base; Its leaves are alternate and can measure up to 15 cm long by 1 cm wide, with a lanceolate, elliptical or obovate shape. It does not usually have a petiole and if it develops it is usually a short and wide one.

For its part, the inflorescence can measure up to 50 cm in height and is shaped like a panicle or folious raceme. The fruits are slightly compressed achenes, nail-shaped or elliptical and 1 mm long.

The plant constitutes an aromatic when it is crushed and is native to Mexico, where it is commonly known as wormwood of the country, estafiate or azumate de Puebla.

Artemisia sp. Source: pixabay.com

Applications

In general, asteraceae species have been used in popular tradition for their chemical and pharmacological properties. For example, plants such as Chamomilla, Cynara, and Sylibum have been used along with many other species for therapeutic applications such as antihepatotoxic, choleretic, spasmolytic, anthelmintic, as well as antibiotics.

Especially, plants like Artemisia capillus have been considered antifungal for showing a significant action against fungi that attack the skin. Likewise, Artemisia cina and Artemisia coerulescens have anthelmintic activity due to the presence of santonin (a sesquiterpene lactone).

Other important compounds have been shown by the Artemisia absinthium plant, of which its extracts are used in the field to control important crop pests.

For its part, the Artemisia princeps plant has shown phytotoxic (inhibition of radicle elongation) and antimicrobial activity (against microorganisms such as Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus nidulans, Fusarium solani and Pleurotus ostreatus).

That is, plants of the genus Artemisia have been used for their controlling effects on microorganisms and pests. Even combined plantings are made with other plants as a kind of protective barrier for crops to repel the insects that attack them. In this sense, mugworts are recognized as allelopathic plants, thanks to their strong aroma.

Diseases and pests

Some known pests of mugwort are aphids and coccoids. On the other hand, some fungi can also attack these herbs. Above all, the fungi that can attack these plants are those that proliferate when there is excess moisture in the soil.

However, there is very little specialized information on the diseases and pests that attack plants of the genus Artemisia. In fact, these plants, instead of being attacked by insects or diseases, act as repellants for many crop pests.

References

1. Wright, CW 2005. Artemisia. Taylor & Francis. 344 p. Taken from: books.google.co.ve
2. Acosta de la Luz, L., Castro Armas, R. 2009. Botany, biology, chemical composition and pharmacological properties of Artemisia annua L. Cuban Journal of Medicinal Plants. 14 (4). Taken from: scielo.sld.cu
3. Gil González, ML 2019. Vascular Flora of the Canary Islands, Artemisia. Taken from: floradecanarias.com
4. Conabio. 2009. Asteraceae = Compositae: Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. Taken from: conabio.gob.mx
5. This is agriculture. 2019. Association of plants for pest control (allelopathy). Taken from: estoesagricultura.com
6. Gago, M. 2018. Caring for mugwort. Green ecology. Taken from: ecologiaverde.com
7. Pérez, M. 2012. Artemisia abrotanum. Taken from: botanicayjardines.com
8. Eco-farmer. 2019. Mugwort: medicinal properties and its cultivation. Taken from: ecoagricultor.com
9. Tropics. 2019. Artemisia L. Taken from: tropicos.org.
10. Sánchez, M. 2019. Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus). Taken from: jardineriaon.com