Artemisia vulgaris

From Permawiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Artemisia vulgaris
Light:Full Sun Part Shade
Moisture:Xeric Mesic
Hardiness:3
Soil pH:5.6-8.4
Height:4'
Width:2'
Blooms:Mid Summer-Early Fall
Edible Rating:PFAF Edibility RatingPFAF Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating:PFAF Medicinal RatingPFAF Medicinal Rating
Tea:Yes
Poisonous

Artemisia vulgaris (common name: mugwort)

Propagation: Seed - surface sow from late winter to early summer in a greenhouse and do not allow the compost to dry out. When large enough to handle, prick out the seedlings into individual pots. If growth is sufficient, they can be planted out into their permanent positions in the summer, otherwise grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter and then plant them out in the spring.

Division in spring or autumn.

Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the young shoots when about 10 - 15cm long, pot up in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse or cold frame and plant them out when well rooted. Very easy.

Cultivation: Easily grown in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a sunny position and a moist soil[1][2][3]. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil[4]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.8 to 8.2. Established plants are drought tolerant[3].

Mugwort is an aggressive and invasive plant[2], it inhibits the growth of nearby plants by means of root secretions[5][6].

The sub-species A. vulgaris parviflora. Maxim. is the form that is eaten in China[7].

There are some named varieties[3]. 'White' is a taller plant than the type species, growing to 1.5 metres. It has a strong, rather resinous or "floral" taste similar to chrysanthemum leaves and is used in soups or fried as a side dish[8].

Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[9].

Range: Throughout most temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, including Britain.

Habitat: Common on hedgebanks and waysides, uncultivated and waste land[10][11][12].

Edibility: Leaves - raw or cooked[13][14][15][16][17]. Aromatic and somewhat bitter[18]. Their addition to the diet aids the digestion and so they are often used in small quantities as a flavouring, especially with fatty foods[8][18]. They are also used to give colour and flavour to glutinous-rice dumplings (Mochi)[8][18]. The young shoots are used in spring[19]. In Japan the young leaves are used as a potherb[8].

The dried leaves and flowering tops are steeped into tea[8]. They have also been used as a flavouring in beer, though fell into virtual disuse once hops came into favour[10].

Medicinal: Mugwort has a long history of use in herbal medicine especially in matters connected to the digestive system, menstrual complaints and the treatment of worms[20]. It is slightly toxic, however, and should never be used by pregnant women, especially in their first trimester, since it can cause a miscarriage[11][20]. Large, prolonged dosage can damage the nervous system[21].

All parts of the plant are anthelmintic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, diaphoretic, digestive, emmenagogue, expectorant, nervine, purgative, stimulant, slightly tonic and used in the treatment of women's complaints[10][11][22][23][24][25][26][6].

The leaves are also said to be appetizer, diuretic, haemostatic and stomachic[27][28][29]. They can be used internally or externally[28]. An infusion of the leaves and flowering tops is used in the treatment of nervous and spasmodic affections, sterility, functional bleeding of the uterus, dysmenorrhoea, asthma and diseases of the brain[27][30]. The leaves have an antibacterial action, inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus typhi, B. dysenteriae, streptococci, E. coli, B. subtilis, Pseudomonas etc[27]. The leaves are harvested in August and can be dried for later use[10].

The stem is also said to be antirheumatic, antispasmodic, and stomachic[28].

The roots are tonic and antispasmodic[30]. They are said to be one of the best stomachics[10]. They are harvested in the autumn and dried for later use[10].

The leaves, placed inside the shoes, are said to be soothing for sore feet[20].

The compressed dried leaves and stems are used in moxibustion[27][26][28][29][20]. Another report says that the down from the leaves is used[10].

Usage: The fresh or the dried plant repels insects, it can be used as a spray but caution is advised since it can also inhibit plant growth[5]. A weak tea made from the infused plant is a good all-purpose insecticide[6]. An essential oil from the plant kills insect larvae[28].

The down on the leaves makes a good tinder for starting fires[31].

Pollinators: Wind

Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.

Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.

Flower Type: Hermaphrodite

Known Hazards: The plant might be poisonous in large doses[23]. Skin contact can cause dermatitis in some people[29].

Links

References

  1. ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hylton, Josie and William Holtom. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press, 1979.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
  4. ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Riotte, Louise. Carrots Love Tomatoes. Garden Way, 1978.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Allardice, Pamela. A-Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers, 1993.
  7. ↑ Read, Bernard. Famine Foods Listed in the Chiu Huang Pen Ts'ao. Taipei Southern Materials Centre, 1977.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
  9. ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
  12. ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
  13. ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
  14. ↑ Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
  15. ↑ Loewenfeld, Claire and Philippa Back. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles.
  16. ↑ Vilmorin-Andrieux. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press.
  17. ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
  19. ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
  21. ↑ Stuart, Malcolm. The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism. Orbis Publishing, 1979.
  22. ↑ Triska, Jan. Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn, 1975.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
  24. ↑ Revolutionary Health Committee of Hunan Province. A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press.
  25. ↑ Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Stuart, George. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei Southern Materials Centre.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Yeung, Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, 1985.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Manandhar, N. Medicinal Plants of Nepal Himalaya. Department of Medicinal Plants, 1993.
  31. ↑ Sowerby, John. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. 1862.


Retrieved from "https://old.permawiki.org/w/index.php?title=Artemisia_vulgaris&oldid=26218"