ARTEMISIA, II eta- m -in:Mei-ft (Lat., Gk. 'Apreptaia, probably from being dedi cated to Artemis). A genus of plants of the order Compositre, in which the flowers of the disk have stamens and styles and are either fertile or abortive, those of the ray pistillate and fertile. The heads of the flowers are numerous and small; the leaves are generally much divided. There are many species. herbaeeous plants and shrubs, natives chiefly of the more temperate re gions of the eastern hemisphere and the western United States. They have generally an aromatic more or less agreeable, and, a warm. some times rather acrid and bitterish taste. To this genus belongs Wormwood (.1 rtem Isla absin thin m), the apsiathion of the ancient Greeks, to whom its medicinal properties were well known. It is a native of Great Britain, the Con tinent of Europe. and the northern parts of Asia, and it grows in waste places by waysides, etc. It is a perennial. two to four feet high; its leaves are bipinnatifid and clothed with a silky down, and its small, hemispherical drooping heads of flowers are of a dingy yellow color and are produced iu axillary panicles. it is aromatic and bitter, containing a bitter prineiple and an essential oil, both of great strength, on ac count of which it is used in medicine in various forms (oil, extract, tincture, etc.), as a stom achic and a ntlielmintie or vermifuge. it was formerly in much use as a febrifuge. Sea Wormwood ( .1 rtemisia ma rit into, including a variety which has been called Artemisia gallica), a native of salt-marshes in Great Britain and taller parts of Europe. possesses similar proper. ties, and is occasionally used for the same pur poses; as also Boman Wormwood (Artemisia politica), a native of the middle and south of Europe, but not of Great Britain; Tartarian Wormwood (Art emigia sant oa lea ), a native of Tartary, Persia, and other parts of the East; and Indian Wormwood (.1 rte», rulga ri.$), native of the Ilitnalaya, abounding at elevations of 2000 to 6000 feet. Indian wormwood grows to the height of twelve feet. It is considered in India a powerful deobstruent and antispasmodic. Tree WormNvood (Artemisia arborcseens), a native of the south of Europe and the Levant, is also larger and more shrubby than the common worm wood, which, in characters and qualities it re sembles. The dried flower-buds of a number of species of Artemisia are sold under the names of Worinseed and have long been in much repute as anthelmintics. Artemisia sail t onica, which is said to contain as much as 2 per cent, of santonin is one of the best known. The plants from which the hitter aromatic liquor called ex( rail, eau, or creme d'absinthe is prepared, are small, low-grow ing species of Artemisia (.1 rt cm isia matelliaa,
A rtemisia glacialis, .1 rt em isia rancid •is, rt em i sia spieata, etc.), found on the Alps. and known to the inhabitants of the Alps by the name of gen ipi. rulgaris), a com mon native of Great Britain and of the Continent of Europe, often found about ruins and in waste places. grows to the height of three or four feet, with pinnatifid leaves and with panicles of small yellow flowers. It emits, when rubbed, an agree able smell, and has a bitter taste. In Germany, the young shoots and leaves are used in cookery for seasoning. It is used also for the same medicinal purposes as wormwood. but is weaker. Its leaves, and those of some of the other species, are used as fomentations for cleansing and healing wounds. Southernwood (Artemisia abrot anam) is a shrubby plant with long, straight stems 3 to 4 feet high, the lower leaves bipinnate, upper leaves pinnate. It. is a native of the south of Europe and middle parts of Asia, and haslong been a favorite plant in cottage-gardens in Great Britain. It has an aromatic and pleasant odor. The leaves are used to drive away moths from linen, and in some parts of the Continent of Europe as an ingredient in the manufacture of beer. The smell of this plant appears to be peculiarly disagreeable to bees, which retreat from it ; and a little branch of southernwood is sometimes efficaciously used when they are sun ruling, to promote their ascent into the new hive placed over them. Tarragon (Artemisia dracnneulus) is a perennial plant, a native of Siberia, and long cultivated in gardens in Great Britain. It has a branching stem one to one and a half feet high, with narrow leaves. It is fragrant, and has an aromatic smell and taste. The leaves and tender tips are a favorite ingredient in pickles. An infusion of the plant in vinegar is used as to fish-sauce. The leaves of _trletnigia m fulcra spa tuna or Ora ligea madera spa ta na are regarded it) India as a valuable stomachic. and are also used in anodyne fomen tations. 3loxa (q.v.) is prepared by the Chinese from the leaves of Artemisia maxi, and other species, the whole surface of whose leaves is covered with a thick down. In the western United States many shrubby species exist and are known as 'sage brush.' One of the most common is Artemisia tridentata, with small, wedge-shaped leaves, three to seven-notched. These plants are important forage for cattle and sheep. especially the latter. Sec ABSINTHE.