Page author: David Giblin
Artemisia absinthium
absinthe, old-man, wormwood
Specimens
Photos

Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east across much of North America to the Atlantic Coast.

Habitat: Roadsides, fields, ditches, wastelots, and other disturbed open areas.

Flowers: July-September

Origin: Introduced from Eurasia

Growth Duration: Perennial

Conservation Status: Not of concern

Pollination: Wind

Description:
General:

Fragrant perennial herb, 4-12 dm. tall, silky throughout with soft hairs at least when young.

Leaves:

Lower leaves long-petiolate, 2-3 times pinnatifid, with oblong segments 1.5-4 mm. wide, the blade rounded-ovate in outline, 3-8 cm. long; other leaves progressively reduced upward.

Flowers:

Inflorescence ample, leafy; involucre 2-3 mm. high, densely silky-hairy, dry and somewhat papery; corollas all tubular, yellowish, fertile, the marginal ones pistillate; receptacle covered with long, white hairs; pappus none.

Fruits:

Achenes glabrous.

Accepted Name:
Artemisia absinthium L.
Publication: Sp. Pl. 2: 848. 1753.

Synonyms & Misapplications:
Artemisia absinthium L. var. absinthium
Additional Resources:

PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Artemisia absinthium in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database

WA Flora Checklist: Artemisia absinthium checklist entry

OregonFlora: Artemisia absinthium information

E-Flora BC: Artemisia absinthium atlas page

CalPhotos: Artemisia absinthium photos

20 photographs:
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