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Silky wormwood

Also known as: Tarragon

Artemisia dracunculus L.

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Silky wormwood
Silky wormwood leaves
Silky wormwood stems
Silky wormwood
Silky wormwood
Silky wormwood

Morphology

Stem
Erect, simple or branched, mostly glabrous.
Leaves
Mostly cauline, alternate; blade linear to linear-lanceolate, .8 to 3 inches long, .04 to .25 inch wide, margins entire or irregularly 3-5-lobed, surfaces glabrous.
Inflorescence
Heads discoid, in panicle-like arrays 4 to 20 inches.
Flower
Involucres globose, .08 to .12 inch wide. Phyllaries 5-20 in 2-3 series, lanceolate, glabrous. Receptacles convex to conic. Ray florets 0. Disk florets 10--50, not all fertile; peripheral florets 6-25, pistillate; central florets 8-20, staminate; corolla yellow, .05 to .08 inch.
Fruit
Achenes tan to grayish brown, fusiform, minute, usually glabrous; pappus absent.

Ecology

Habitat
Sandy to gravelly mixed-grass and shortgrass prairies.
Distribution
Principally west 1/2 of Kansas

Practical Information

Uses
The leaves are used as the cooking herb tarragon. Native Americans took a tea of the roots for colds, dysentery and infant colic; applied the dried, powdered foliage to open sores; burned the plant to repel mosquitoes; and used the seeds for food.

Additional Notes

Comments

For Artemis, Greek goddess of hunting, wilderness, and wild animals.

Quick Facts
Plant Type
Wildflower
Family
Asteraceae - Sunflower Family
Life Span
Perennial
Height
20-60 inches
Origin
Native
Last Updated
2014-01-17
Color Groups
Yellow Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Blooms: August, September