Artemisia microcephala Wooton 1898, syn of subsp. albula, not A. microcephala Hillebr. 1888
Artemisia candicans Rydb., syn of subsp. candicans
Artemisia gracilenta A.Nelson, syn of subsp. candicans
Artemisia latiloba (Nutt.) Rydb., syn of subsp. candicans
Artemisia prescottiana Besser, syn of subsp. incompta
Artemisia pumila Nutt., syn of subsp. incompta
Artemisia arachnoidea E.Sheld., syn of subsp. incompta
Artemisia atomifera Piper, syn of subsp. incompta
Artemisia incompta Nutt., syn of subsp. incompta
Artemisia lindleyana Besser, syn of subsp. incompta'
Artemisia cuneifolia Scheele, syn of subsp. mexicana
Artemisia mexicana Willd. ex Spreng., syn of subsp. mexicana
Artemisia neomexicana Greene ex Rydb., syn of subsp. mexicana
Oligosporus mexicanus (Willd. ex Spreng.) Less., syn of subsp. mexicana
Artemisia redolens A.Gray, syn of subsp. redolens
Artemisia sulcata Rydb., syn of subsp. sulcata
Artemisia ludoviciana is a North American
species of
flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae, known by several common names, including silver wormwood, western mugwort, Louisiana wormwood, white sagebrush, lobed cud-weed, prairie sage, and gray sagewort.[2][3][4][5]
Ludoviciana is the
Latinized version of the word Louisiana.[6]
Description
Artemisia ludoviciana is a
rhizomatousperennial growing to heights of 0.3–1.0 m (0.98–3.28 ft). 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.[7]
Distribution and habitat
The plant is
native to North America where it is widespread across most of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.[2][3][8][9] Some botanists suggest that
eastern United States populations have been introduced from the western and central part of the continent.[10] Its habitats include dry slopes, canyons, open pine woods, and dry prairies.[7]
A. l. subsp. sulcata (Rydb.) D.D.Keck—Chihuahua, Sonora, Arizona
Uses
Indigenous usage
Indigenous tribes across the continent use the species as a
medicinal plant, a source of fiber for crafting household items, and for ceremonial purposes.[12] The
Dakota people use this plant in
smudging rituals to protect against maleficent spirits. The
Apache,
Chiricahua and
Mescalero use it for spices,[13] while
Blackfoot tribe use it as a drug for
dermatological use.[14] The
Cree and Blackfoot tribes use it in sweat lodges and the sun dance.[5]Gros Ventre also use it for skin curing and as medicine against cold, because it is also
antipyretic.[15] The
Meskwaki and
Potawatomi use a tea made from this species as a treatment for sore throat and tonsillitis.[4]
Cultivation
A. ludoviciana is cultivated as an
ornamental plant.[16] 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.[6]
^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): 290–1–290–13
^Turner, 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
^Castetter, Edward F. and M. E. Opler (1936). Ethnobiological Studies in the American Southwest III. The Ethnobiology of the Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache. Vol. 4. University of New Mexico Bulletin. p. 47.