absinthe wormwood

(Artemisia absinthium)

Conservation Status
absinthe wormwood
 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

NNA - No Status Rank

SNA - No Status Rank

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
 
Description
 
 

Absinthe wormwood is a common, exotic, herbaceous plant. It is native to Europe, Asia, and north Africa. It has been widely cultivated both as an ornamental and as an ingredient in green, anise-flavored spirit absinthe. It was introduced and cultivated in North America. It escaped cultivation and is now widely naturalized throughout the United States and southern Canada. It is found in old fields, pastures, waste places, old homestead sites, and other disturbed sites; and on roadsides, fencerows, and streambanks. It grows under full or partial sun in moist to moderately dry, well-drained, loamy, clayey, or gravelly soil. It is considered a weed in pastures but it does not have a formal weed status in any state.

Absinthe wormwood is a 16 to 40 tall, erect, long-lived, perennial forb that rises on up to 20 or more stems from a stout, woody taproot. Like most Artemisia species, the leaves and stem are strongly aromatic when bruised.

The stems are erect or ascending, usually branched, and sometimes woody near the base. When young they are densely covered with short, silky hairs, giving them a grayish-green appearance. Older stems sometimes become nearly hairless.

Basal leaves are deciduous, up to 8 long, and on long leaf stalks. They do not have stipule-like lobes or teeth at the base. They are deeply cut into 3 or 5 primary lobes (pinnatifid). The primary lobes are again divided into secondary lobes (bipinnatifid), which may be once more lobed (3 times pinnatifid). The ultimate lobes are inversely egg-shaped, 1 16 to wide, and are rounded at the tip. When young, the upper and lower surfaces are densely covered with short, silky hairs, giving them a grayish-green appearance. The upper surface of mature leaves is sometimes nearly hairless. The margins are untoothed.

Lower stem leaves are similar, alternate, 2 to 4 long, and on shorter leaf stalks, becoming even smaller, less divided, and on shorter stalks as they ascend the stem. The uppermost leaves may be undivided and stalkless.

The inflorescence is an open, leafy, elongated, branched cluster (panicle) of at the end of the stems and branches. The panicles are 4 to 8 long or longer, 4 to 5 wide or wider, and have numerous flower heads.

The flower heads small and inconspicuous and droop downward. The whorl of bracts at the base of the flower head (involucre) is broadly egg-shaped, 1 16 to long, and to 3 16 wide. The bracts of the involucre are densely covered with silky hairs and have broad, thin, papery, transparent margins and tip. There are no ray florets. The disk has female (pistillate) florets as well as florets that have both male and female parts (perfect). On the margin of the disk are 9 to 20 pale yellow, pistillate florets. In the center are 30 to 50 pale yellow, perfect florets.

The fruit is a tiny achene.

 
     
 

Height

 
 

16 to 40

 
     
 

Flower Color

 
 

Pale yellow

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
 

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) has leaves with a green, hairless upper surface and ultimate lobes that are sharply pointed. The flower heads are smaller

 
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Old fields, pastures, waste places, old homestead sites, disturbed sites, roadsides, fencerows, and streambanks

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Flowering

 
 

July to September

 
     
 

Pests and Diseases

 
 

 

 
     
 
Use
 
 

Absinthe wormwood is planted as an ornamental for its attractive grayish-green foliage. It is a key ingredient in the spirit absinthe.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 22, 28, 29, 30.

 
  1/31/2023      
         
 

Nativity

 
 

Native to Europe, Asia, and north Africa. Introduced and naturalized in North America

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)  
  Superorder Asteranae  
 

Order

Asterales (sunflowers, bellflowers, fanflowers, and allies)  
 

Family

Asteraceae (sunflowers, daisies, asters, and allies)  
  Subfamily Asteroideae  
  Supertribe Asterodae  
  Tribe Anthemideae (chamomiles, yarrows, and allies)  
  Subtribe Artemisiinae  
  Genus Artemisia (wormwoods and sagebrushes)  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Artemisia absinthium var. absinthium

Artemisia absinthium var. insipida

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

absinth

absinth sagewort

absinth sage-wort

absinthe wormwood

absinthe

absinthe wormwood

absinthium

common sagewort

common sage-wort

common wormwood

grand wormwood

mugwort

sage-wort

wormwood sage

wormwood

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Achene

A dry, one-chambered, single-seeded fruit, formed from a single carpel, with the seed attached to the membranous outer layer (wall) only by the seed stalk; the wall, formed entirely from the wall of the superior ovary, does not split open at maturity, but relies on decay or predation to release the contents.

 

Bipinnatifid

Twice pinnatifid. Cut deeply into lobes with each lobe also cut into deep lobes.

 

Involucre

A whorl of bracts beneath or surrounding a flower or flower cluster.

 

Panicle

A pyramidal inflorescence with a main stem and branches. Flowers on the lower, longer branches mature earlier than those on the shorter, upper ones.

 

Perfect

Referring to a flower that has both male and female reproductive organs.

 

Pinnatifid

Deeply cut, more than half way to the midrib but not to the midrib, into lobes that are spaced out along the midrib; the lobes do not form separate leaflets.

 

Pistillate

Referring to a flower that has a female reproductive organ (pistil) but does not have male reproductive organs (stamens).

 

Stipule

A small, leaf-like, scale-like, glandular, or rarely spiny appendage found at the base of a leaf stalk, usually occurring in pairs and usually dropping soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Traditional Absinthe is Still Illegal in the U.S.

Absinthe was banned in the United States in 1912 because it was believed to be hallucinogenic and dangerous. The reason for the concern was the psychoactive chemical compound thujone, which is contained in the plant absinthe wormwood.

According to Absinthe Original, makers of absinthe in London, England,

For those who are unfamiliar, thujone is to absinthe what caffeine is to coffee: it is what gives it its "buzz". It's the ingredient that pretty much defines absinthe as a drink, the ingredient that distinguishes it from any other alcoholic beverage ever created.

In 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau authorized the sale of absinthe that is thujone-free, meaning that the thujone level is less than 10 parts per million (ppm). Absinthe in Europe and the United Kingdom contains 35 ppm. This “American absinthe” is not sold outside the United States because no one would buy it.

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

Share your photo of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption.
 
 

 

 
 

 

 
           
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Plant

 
    absinthe wormwood   absinthe wormwood  
           
    absinthe wormwood   absinthe wormwood  
           
 

Inflorescence

 
    absinthe wormwood   absinthe wormwood  
           
 

Basal Leaves

 
    absinthe wormwood   absinthe wormwood  
           
    absinthe wormwood   absinthe wormwood  
           
 

Stem Leaves

 
    absinthe wormwood   absinthe wormwood  
           
    absinthe wormwood   absinthe wormwood  

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
  Artemisia absinthium
Susanne Wiik
 
  Artemisia absinthium  
 
About

Malurt, Wormwood

 
  Artemisia absinthium
Matt Lavin
 
  Artemisia absinthium  
 
About

Introduced taprooted perennial herb 40-80 cm tall (actually to 1 m or more), common along roadsides, fields, and other moderately disturbed settings usually on the wetter end of the moisture gradient. The pendulous heads with hairy receptacles are very similar to those of Artemisia frigida.

 
  Artemisia absinthium
Raiven40
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on May 19, 2011

· Plants of future (http://www.pfaf.org)

· GRIN - Taxonomic information (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxfam.pl?language=es)

 

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

Share your video of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link.
 
 

 

 
     
     
       
       
 
Other Videos
 
  Artemisia absinthium (Absinthe)
TeachEthnobotany
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Nov 29, 2011

Michael Clanahan gives a presentation on the medicinal properties of Artemisia absinthium, commonly known as wormwood and the source of absinthe. In this talk, he discusses the botanical and chemical characteristics of the plant, as well as its known biological activities. This medicinal plant monograph presentation was recorded on November 28th, 2011 as part of Dr. Cassandra L. Quave's undergraduate course entitled "Botanical Medicine and Health" offered at Emory University.

DISCLAIMER: Content provided in this video and the YouTube TeachEthnobotany site is for educational purposes only and should not be construed to be medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. The information about herbal medicines and drugs in this video and the TeachEthnobotany site is general in nature. It does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of the medicines mentioned, nor is the information intended as medical advice for individual problems or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of taking a particular drug or botanical/herbal medicine. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition.

   
  Wormwood herb: Artemisia absinthium
HerbMentor
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Jan 25, 2009

http://FreeHerbCourse.com Wormwood herb, Artemisia absinthium and wormwood uses. how to harvest wormwood, how to grow wormwood. Learn about wormwood in this informative video.

   
  'Poisonous Plants 1-2-1' Artemisia absinthium, wormwood
John Robertson
 
   
 
About

Published on Dec 31, 2013

The story of wormwood, used to flavour absinthe, in 121 seconds. For more information on the plant please visit http://www.thepoisongarden.co.uk/atoz/artemisia_absinthium.htm

Or, for a detailed look at absinthe see http://www.thepoisongarden.co.uk/atoz/absinthe.htm

   
  Weed of the Week #670-absinthe wormwood (Air Date 2/6/11)
AgPhD
 
   
 
About

Uploaded on Feb 10, 2011

No green fairies here. It's our Weed of the Week, absinthe wormwood.

   

 

Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this plant.

 
  This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.
 
   

 

   
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Avon Hills Forest SNA, North Unit

Belgium Prairie

Big Stone Lake State Park

Blanket Flower Prairie SNA

Blazing Star Prairie Addition Preserve, South Unit

Bonanza Prairie SNA

Buffalo River State Park

Cambria WMA

Camden State Park

Cedar Mountain SNA

Chippewa Prairie

Cottonwood River Prairie SNA

Crosby Farm Regional Park

Crystal Spring SNA

Dodge Nature Center

Elm Creek Park Reserve

Felton Prairie SNA, Bicentennial Unit

Felton Prairie SNA, Shrike Unit

Foxhome Prairie

Glacial Lakes Preserve

Glacial Lakes State Park

Glendalough State Park

Grey Cloud Dunes SNA

Hole-in-the-Mountain Prairie

Hyland Lake Park Reserve

Kasota Prairie

Lake Bronson State Park

Lake Carlos State Park

Lebanon Hills Regional Park

Maplewood State Park

Minnesota Valley NWR, Rapids Lake Unit

Minnesota Valley NWR, Wilkie Unit

Mississippi River County Park

Mound Spring Prairie SNA, North Unit

Mound Spring Prairie SNA, South Unit

Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR, Rengstorf Unit

Old Mill State Park

Partch Woods SNA

Pembina Trail Preserve SNA, Crookston Prairie Unit

Pilot Knob

Prairie Smoke Dunes SNA

Regal Meadow

Rock Ridge Prairie SNA

Rockville County Park

Sand Prairie Wildlife Management and Environmental Education Area

Santee Prairie SNA

Savage Fen SNA

Seven Sisters Prairie

Sibley State Park

Split Rock Creek State Park

Spring Lake Regional Park

Spring Prairie Preserve

Sunfish Lake Park

Tiedemann WMA

Twin Valley Prairie Addition

Twin Valley WMA: North Unit

Tympanuchus Prairie

Upper Sioux Agency State Park

Vermillion Highlands Research Recreation and WMA

Woodland Trails Park

 

 

 

Binoculars


Last Updated:

About Us | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | © MinnesotaSeasons.com.com. All rights reserved.