Artemisia japonica

Artemisia japonica, commonly known as the Japanese wormwood or the Oriental wormwood, is a species of wormwood in the family Asteraceae that is native to Japan, Korea, China, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent.

Description

A herb. It grows 50-90 cm high. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a woody rootstock 2-3 cm thick. The leaves are clustered at the top. The leaves are spoon shaped and 4-8 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. There are lobes along the stalk and teeth along the edge.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Edible Uses: Young leaves - cooked. Used as a vegetable.

Traditional Uses

Young leaves are roasted and eaten with soy sauce. They are boiled, fried or stir-fried and used as a potherb or added to soups. They are also used for colouring and flavouring.

Medicinal Uses

Depurative Digestive Febrifuge Skin Women's complaints The leaves are digestive. A decoction of the leaves is said to promote a plump figure, but too much is said to be deleterious and can cause hypertension. The expressed juice of the plant is used in the treatment of vaginitis. It is also used to treat skin diseases. Theplant is used for making antitoxifying and antifebrile drugs.

Known Hazards

Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, skin contact with some members of this genus can cause dermatitis or other allergic reactions in some people.

Distribution

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. In Pakistan it grows in mixed gravely sands between 500-1,200 m above sea level. In China it grows from low elevations to 3,300 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Afghanistan, Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam,

Cultivation

Easily grown in a well-drained circumneutral or slightly alkaline loamy soil, preferring a warm sunny dry position. Established plants are drought tolerant. This species is not very hardy in the colder areas of Britain, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c. Plants are longer lived, more hardy and more aromatic when they are grown in a poor dry soil. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow from late winter to early summer in a greenhouse, making sure that the compost does not dry out. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Division in spring or autumn. Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the young shoots when about10 - 15cm long, pot up in a lightly shaded position in a greenhouse or cold frame and plant them out when well rooted. Very easy.

Other Uses

Incense The powder of the dried plant is used as an incense. Special Uses

Notes

There are about 300 Artemisia species. It is used as a medicine in Nepal.

Synonyms

Also Known As

Burnak, Cuu rung, Jebissuk, Ngai, Otoko-yomogi, Pha-let-wa

References (12)

• Altschul, S.V.R., 1973, Drugs and Foods from Little-known Plants. Notes in Harvard University Herbaria. Harvard Univ. Press. Massachusetts. no. 5006
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 33
• Fl. jap. 310. 1784
• Flora of Pakistan.
• Hwang, H., et al, 2013, A Study on the Flora of 15 Islands in the Western Sea of Jeollanamdo Province, Korea. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Vol. 6, No. 2 281-310

More from Asteraceae

Antennaria dioica

Antennaria microphylla

Pussy-toes

Antennaria neglecta

Cat's claw, Cat's paw

Antennaria parvifolia

Littleleaf Pussytoes

Antennaria rosea

Rosy Pussytoes

Anthemis chia