Habitat and Range
Mugwort is a great herb to discover in its otherwise dry and wasted habitat. This plant is usually found in disturbed areas below 6000 ft in all parts of the Sierra.
Physical Description
Like the other members of the Artemisia genus, Mugwort smells very aromatic and shares the Sagebrush smell. It grows as an erect perennial from a rhizome and stands about 3 ft tall. The basal leaves are terminally dentate while the young leaves are entire. Most leaves looked blotchy with white spots. The inflorescence is a head, like other Compositae, containing both ray and disk flowers. However, the head is discoid and contains scale-like ray flowers that are relatively inconspicuous, unlike other showy sunflowers that have colorful, petaloid rayflowers. The disk flowers are slender, tube-like protuberances only 2-3 mm long.
Food Uses
The flower heads can be dried and used as a strong spice best used in moderation with fish and poultry.
CAUTION: Use in moderation. The volatile oil, absinthol, is toxic in large or repeated doses. Heavy or repeated doses or absinthol derivatives have been known to cause coma and convulsions.
Medicinal Uses
This herb is best known for its effective medicinal use as a sore throat remedy. The fresh leaves can be chewed, which releases the volatile oil, absinthol, and is also a great remedy for colds, coughs, and nasal congestion. Related species, such as wormwood, have been used for liniments and in footbaths for sore and aching muscles.
|
