Russian Wormwood (Artemisia gmelinii)

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, skin contact with some members of this genus can cause dermatitis or other allergic reactions in some people^[4].

One report says that the plant is edible but gives no more details^[2].

Plant part: Leaves

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The leaf and stem are used in Korea to treat hepatitis, hyperlipaemia and infected cholecystitis^[9]. The plant contains flavonoids, sesquiterpenes and other bio-active constituents, though no bio-activites have been recorded scientifically^[9].

Product or use: Hepatic

The plant yields 1% essential oil, which contains 19% essential oil, 6% camphor^[6].

Environment

Range

Eastern Europe to Central Asia, China, Mongolia and Korea.

Habitat

Dry stony slopes, especially in Ladakh and Lahul, 2100 - 4200 metres^[10]. Hills, steppe, semidesert steppe, meadows, rocky slopes, scrub, dry floodlands, wastelands; 1500--4900 m^[8].

Light

full sun

Shade tolerance

no shade

Water

moderate

Hardiness

Zone 3+

Soil textures

sandy, loamy, clay

Soil pH

acid, neutral, alkaline

Drainage

well drained

Tolerances

drought

Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil

Drought

tolerant

Propagation

Seed - surface sow from late winter to early summer in a greenhouse, making sure that the compost does not dry out^[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring or autumn^[3]. Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the young shoots when about10 - 15cm long, pot up in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse or cold frame and plant them out when well rooted. Very easy.

Cultivation

Easily grown in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a warm sunny dry position^[1]^[3]. Established plants are drought tolerant^[3]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil^[7]. This species is closely related to A. sacrorum and often confused with that species^[8]. We are not sure if this plant is annual, biennial or perennial, since various reports differ. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer^[5].

References

F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

↩

Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

↩

Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

↩

Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

↩

Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

↩

Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

↩

Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/