Artemisia (genus)

Artemisia is a large, diverse genus of plants with between 200 and 400 species belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae). It comprises hardy herbs and shrubs known for their volatile oils. They are native to temperate regions of both hemispheres, usually in dry or semi-dry habitats. Notable species in the genus include Artemisia absinthium, commonly known as absinthe wormwood, and Artemisia annua, the sweet wormwood.

Description

Artemisia species grow in temperate climates of both hemispheres, usually in dry or semi-dry habitats. The leaves of many species are covered with white hairs. Most species have strong aromas and bitter tastes from terpenoids and sesquiterpene lactones, which discourage herbivory, and may have had a selective advantage.

Uses

The aromatic leaves of some species are used for flavoring. Most species have an extremely bitter taste. Artemisinin (from Artemisia annua) and derivatives are a group of compounds with the most rapid action of all current drugs against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. It is also used in the production of absinthe, a highly alcoholic beverage.

Species

The genus Artemisia includes a number of well-known plants species, such as Artemisia dracunculus, the culinary herb tarragon, Artemisia absinthium, used to create the spirit absinthe, and Artemisia annua, the source of the powerful anti-malarial drug artemisinin.

Cultivation

Artemisia species are used as food plants by the larvae of a number of Lepidoptera species. Some botanists split the genus into several genera, but DNA analysis does not support the maintenance of the genera Crossostephium, Filifolium, Neopallasia, Seriphidium, and Sphaeromeria; three other segregate genera Stilnolepis, Elachanthemum, and Kaschgaria, are maintained by this evidence.

See also

• List of Artemisia species
• Artemisia (disambiguation)