Practical
Plants

Artemisia indica

an annual or perennial member of the Artemisia genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
annual, perennial
Height
1.2 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

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.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[5].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - cooked and eaten with barley[3]. The leaves are also pounded with steamed glutinous rice to give a flavour and colouring[2][3].

Product or use
Colouring
Product or use
Condiment
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

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.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves and flowering stems are anthelmintic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, emmenagogue, expectorant and stomachic[7][10]. An infusion is used in the treatment of nervous and spasmodic affections, in asthma and in diseases of the brain[7][10]. This infusion is also considered to be helpful in improving the appetite[10]. The juice of the plant is used in Nepal to treat diarrhoea, dysentery and abdominal pains[10]. It is used as an eyewash where it is said to relieve the burning sensation in conjunctivitis[10]. A paste of the plant is applied externally to treat wounds[10]. The roots are antiseptic and are a tonic for the kidneys[7][9][10].

Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Ophthalmic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant yields about 0.2% essential oil. This is a good larvicide and a feeble insecticide[7]. The dried leaves and flowers are used as an incense[10].

Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Incense

Environment

Range
E. Asia - China, Japan, India.
Habitat
Waste ground in central and southern Japan[11]. The sides of paths and tracks, margins of cleared forests at elevations of 300 - 2500 metres in Nepal[10].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - surface sow spring in a greenhouse. Do not allow the compost to dry out. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer. The seed can also be sown in situ in late spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Easily grown in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a sunny position[1][4]. Plants are annuals or short-lived perennials[4]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil[8]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[6].

References

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  7. 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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  10. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9

  11. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

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