Japanese mugwort (Artemisia princeps, Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n.s., 36: 444 (1930))

Family: Asteraceae

Author: Pamp.

Bibliography: Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n.s., 36: 444 (1930)

Year: 1930

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Artemisia

Vegetable: False

Observations: China to Temp. E. Asia

Description

Japanese mugwort, scientifically known as Artemisia princeps, is a notable member of the Asteraceae family. First documented in the scientific literature by Pamp in “Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n.s., 36: 444 (1930),” this versatile plant holds a significant place in both botanical research and traditional applications.

Native to temperate regions of East Asia, Japanese mugwort is prevalently found from China through various territories in East Asia. It’s renowned not only for its hardiness and adaptability but also for the myriad of uses it offers.

The plant typically thrives in well-drained soils and is commonly found in fields, along roadsides, and in meadowlands. It’s identifiable by its deeply lobed leaves with white felt-like hairs on the underside, giving a silvery appearance. During the flowering season, Artemisia princeps produces small, inconspicuous flowers, contributing to its serene and understated beauty in natural settings.

Aside from its ecological presence, Japanese mugwort holds substantial cultural and medicinal value. Traditionally, it has been utilized in East Asian medicine for its supposed therapeutic properties. It’s commonly employed in herbal remedies for conditions such as digestive issues, menstrual pains, and as a part of moxibustion—an ancient practice involving the burning of mugwort to facilitate healing.

Culinarily, Japanese mugwort is integral in various East Asian cuisines, often used to flavor confections, rice cakes, and as a unique seasoning option due to its slightly bitter taste and aromatic scent.

In summary, Artemisia princeps, or Japanese mugwort, is a plant of great ecological, medicinal, and cultural importance in East Asia. Its wide range from China to temperate East Asia underscores its adaptability and significance within both natural and human contexts.

Common Names

Eng: japanese mugwort
Nld: wijde alsem
En: Japanese mugwort
Zh: 魁蒿
Nl: Wijde alsem
Ja: Yomogi
Ko: 쑥
Fa: برنجاسف کره‌ای
Zh-tw: 魁蒿
Zh-hant: 魁蒿

Synonyms

• Artemisia parvula (Pamp.)
• Artemisia indica var. maximowiczii ((Nakai) H.Hara)
• Artemisia vulgaris var. maximowiczii (Nakai)

Distribution

• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Japan (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Ogasawara-shoto (native)
• Taiwan (native)

Additional Images

Leaf

Taken Jul 22, 2004 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 27, 2022 by 道草 (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Sep 27, 2022 by 道草 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 27, 2022 by 道草 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 27, 2022 by 道草 (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3121258)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:179985-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Artemisia princeps Pamp.)

Specifications

Growth