Artemisia scoparia
a biennial member of the Artemisia genus in the family Compositae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Compositae
- Genus
- Artemisia
- Life cycle
- biennial
- Height
- 0.6 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.
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
Young leaves - cooked[2].
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Product or use
- Cooked
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.
The plant is anticholesterolemic, antipyretic, antiseptic, cholagogue, diuretic and vasodilator[1]. It has an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, streptococci, Bacillus dysenteriae, B. typhi, B. subtilis, Pneumococci, C. diphtheriae, mycobacterium etc[1]. It is used in the treatment of jaundice, hepatitis and inflammation of the gall bladder[1]. The plant is also used in a mixture with other herbs as a cholagogue[4].
- Product or use
- Antibacterial
- Product or use
- Anticholesterolemic
- Product or use
- Antipyretic
- Product or use
- Antiseptic
- Product or use
- Cholagogue
- Product or use
- Diuretic
- Product or use
- Vasodilator
Material uses
The seed and flowering stems contain 0.75% essential oil[7].
- Plant part
- Seed, Shoots
- Product or use
- Essential
Environment
- Range
- C. Europe to W. Asia.
- Habitat
- Waste ground in C. Japan[9].
- 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
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
Seed - sow late spring in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Cultivation
Easily grown in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a warm sunny dry position. Established plants are drought tolerant[3]. 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
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
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
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
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
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00