SafePlants

Artemisia carruthii (Carruth's Sagewort)

Artemisia carruthii, commonly known as Carruth's sagewort, Carruth's sagebrush, or Carruth wormwood, is a North American shrub belonging to the daisy family.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Artemisia carruthii Alph. Wood ex Carruth.
• Family: Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)
• Genus: Artemisia L. (sagebrush, wormwood, sagewort)
• Synonyms: Carruth's sagebrush, Carruth's wormwood

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to much of North America, particularly the central and southwestern regions and western North America.
• Found in foothills and montane areas.
• Grows in meadows and gravelly locations.
• Specific locations mentioned include Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• A forb/herb (a non-woody plant that is not a grass).
• Described as a short shrub with soft features.

Traditional Uses

• The Navajo, Ramah people used an infusion of the leaves as a cough medicine. (Vestal, Paul A. 1952 The Ethnobotany of)

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Artemisia carruthii is sometimes parasitized by broomrape.
• The plant is found growing with wild alfalfa, slender scurfpea, and citron paintbrush, among others.

Resources and Further Information

• USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database.
• Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions.
• Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).
• Encyclopedia of Life.
• Dave's Garden website
• Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences