Wormwood

Artemesia.

The cultivated species are as follow:—

Common Wormwood.

Artemesia absynthium.

This species, everywhere common to gardens in this country, is a native of Great Britain. It is a hardy, perennial, shrubby plant, two or three feet in height. The leaves are deeply cut, or divided, pale-green above, and hoary beneath; the flowers are small, numerous, pale-yellow; the seeds are quite small, and retain their powers of germination two years.

The leaves, when bruised, have a strong, somewhat pungent, yet aromatic odor, and are proverbial for their intense bitterness.

Roman Wormwood.

Artemesia pontica.

This species somewhat resembles the foregoing: but the roots are smaller, less woody, and more fibrous, and the stalks are shorter, and more slender; the leaves are smaller, more finely cut, or divided, pale-green above, and hoary on the under surface, like those of the Common Wormwood; the flowers, which are produced on the upper branches, are small, and of a pale-yellow color; seeds similar to those of the above species, retaining their vitality two years.

It is generally preferred to the Common Wormwood for medicinal purposes, as the taste is more agreeable, and its odor less pungent.

Sea Wormwood.

Artemesia maritima.

Indigenous to Great Britain, and common to the seacoast of Holland and the low countries of Europe. Roots creeping, tough, and fibrous; stalks two or three feet high, and, like the roots, tough and woody; leaves numerous, long, narrow, and hoary; flowers yellow, produced on the small branches towards the top of the plant; seeds similar to those of the Common Wormwood.

The leaves are somewhat bitter to the taste, and, when bruised, emit a strong, pleasant, aromatic odor.

Soil and Cultivation.—All the species are hardy, aromatic perennials; and, though they will thrive in almost any soil, their properties are best developed in that which is warm, dry, and light. They are generally propagated, as other hardy shrubs, by dividing the plants; but may be raised from seeds, or slips. The seeds are sown in April, in shallow drills; and the seedlings afterwards transplanted to rows two feet apart, and a foot from each other in the rows.

Use.—"An infusion of the leaves and tops of the Common Wormwood is used as a vermifuge, tonic, and stomachic; and the leaves are found to be beneficial to poultry."—- Thomp.

Most of the other species possess the same properties in a greater or less degree, and are used for the same purposes.