Artemisia ludoviciana

Artemisia ludoviciana is a rhizomatous perennial growing to heights of {{convert|0.3|-|1.0|m|ft|abbr=on}}. The stems bear linear leaves up to 11 cm long. The stems and foliage are covered in woolly gray or white hairs. The top of the stem is occupied by a narrow inflorescence of many nodding (hanging) flower heads. Each small head is a cup of hairy phyllaries surrounding a center of yellowish disc florets and is about 0.5 cm wide. The fruit is a minute achene. Flowers bloom July to October.

The plant is native to North America where it is widespread across most of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242416100 Flora of North America Vol. 19, 20 and 21 Page 527 Silver wormwood, white or silver sage Artemisia ludoviciana Nuttall, Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 2: 143. 1818.]Berendsohn, W.G. & A.E. Araniva de González. 1989. Listado básico de la Flora Salvadorensis: Dicotyledonae, Sympetalae (pro parte): Labiatae, Bignoniaceae, Acanthaceae, Pedaliaceae, Martyniaceae, Gesneriaceae, Compositae. Cuscatlania 1(3): 290–1–290–13Turner, B. L. 1996. The Comps of Mexico: A systematic account of the family Asteraceae, vol. 6. Tageteae and Athemideae. Phytologia Memoirs 10: i–ii, 1–22, 43–93 Some botanists suggest that eastern United States populations have been introduced from the western and central part of the continent.[http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Artemisia%20ludoviciana.png Biota of North America Program: county distribution map] Retrieved 26 November 2017. Its habitats include dry slopes, canyons, open pine woods, and dry prairies.{{Cite web|title=Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin|url=https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=arlu|access-date=2022-02-18|website=www.wildflower.org}}

The following subspecies are recognised:{{Cite web |title=Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. {{!}} Plants of the World Online {{!}} Kew Science |url=http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:303755-2 |access-date=2024-06-16 |website=Plants of the World Online |language=en}}

• A. l. subsp. albula (Wooton) D.D.Keck—deserts from California and Colorado to Chihuahua, Sonora, Baja California
• A. l. subsp. candicans (Rydb.) D.D.Keck—Rocky Mountains and Cascade Range from Alberta, British Columbia to California, Colorado
• A. l. subsp. incompta (Nutt.) D.D.Keck—mountains from Alberta, British Columbia, to Mexico
• A. l. subsp. lindleyana (Besser) Lesica—Chihuahua, Sonora, Arizona
• A. l. subsp. ludoviciana—western and central United States and western Canada
• A. l. subsp. mexicana (Willd. ex Spreng.) D.D.Keck— Mexico as far south as Puebla; United States as far north as Colorado and Missouri
• A. l. subsp. redolens (A.Gray) D.D.Keck—Durango, Chihuahua, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas

Indigenous tribes across the continent use the species as a medicinal plant, a source of fiber for crafting household items, and for ceremonial purposes.[http://naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=Artemisia+ludoviciana University of Michigan @ Dearborn, Native American Ethnobotany of Artemisia ludoviciana] Retrieved 26 November 2017. The Dakota people use this plant in smudging rituals to protect against maleficent spirits. The Apache, Chiricahua and Mescalero use it for spices,{{cite book|author=Castetter, Edward F. and M. E. Opler|year=1936|title=Ethnobiological Studies in the American Southwest III. The Ethnobiology of the Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache|publisher=University of New Mexico Bulletin|volume=4|issue=5|page=47}} while Blackfoot tribe use it as a drug for dermatological use.{{cite book|author=Hellson, John C.|year=1974|title=Ethnobotany of the Blackfoot Indians, Ottawa|url=https://archive.org/details/ethnobotanyofbla0000hell|url-access=registration|publisher=National Museums of Canada|series=Mercury Series|pages=[https://archive.org/details/ethnobotanyofbla0000hell/page/17 17–124]}} The Cree and Blackfoot tribes use it in sweat lodges and the sun dance. Gros Ventre also use it for skin curing and as medicine against cold, because it is also antipyretic.{{cite book|author=Hart, Jeff|year=1992|title=Montana Native Plants and Early Peoples, Helena|publisher=Montana Historical Society Press|page=44}} The Meskwaki and Potawatomi use a tea made from this species as a treatment for sore throat and tonsillitis.{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Huron H.|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/68943064 |title=Ethnobotany of the Meskwaki Indians |date=1978 |publisher=AMS Press |oclc=68943064}}

A. ludoviciana is cultivated as an ornamental plant.[http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/1243--artemisia-ludoviciana Las Pilitas Horticulture Database: Artemisia ludoviciana (White Sagebrush)] Retrieved 26 November 2017. Being rhizomatous, it can spread aggressively in some climates and gardens. It grows in dry to medium moisture and well-drained soil. It requires full sun.

Popular cultivars include 'Valerie Finnis' and 'Silver Queen'. Both are hardy to USDA zone 4. 'Valerie Finnis' has held the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit since 1993.{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Artemisia ludoviciana 'Valerie Finnis'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/90659/Artemisia-ludoviciana-Valerie-Finnis/Details | accessdate=23 February 2020}}

{{Reflist}}

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• [http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=710 Calflora Database: Artemisia ludoviciana (Mugwort, Silver wormwood)]
• [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=1209 Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of Artemisia ludoviciana]
• [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Artemisia+ludoviciana Calphotos Photo gallery, University of California]

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ludoviciana

Category:Flora of Canada

Category:Flora of Mexico

Category:Flora of the Eastern United States

Category:Flora of the Western United States

Category:Flora of the Rocky Mountains

Category:Flora of the Sierra Nevada (United States)

Category:Plants described in 1818

Category:Plants used in traditional Native American medicine

Category:Garden plants of North America

Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status