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white sagebrush

Scientific Name: Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. sulcata

Family: Asteraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Subshrub, Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Artemisia ludoviciana

Artemisia ludoviciana is known by a multitude of common names, reflecting its widespread distribution and varied appearance. These include:

  • Silver wormwood
  • Western mugwort
  • Louisiana wormwood
  • White sagebrush
  • Gray sagewort
  • Wild sage
  • Prairie sage
  • White mugwort
  • Louisiana sage
  • Darkleaf mugwort
  • Mexican sagewort
  • Louisiana artemisia
  • Silver sage
  • White sage
  • Silver King
  • Cudweed

Note that it is different from White Sage (Salvia), which some Native Americans may have substituted with Sagebrush when White Sage was unavailable.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.
  • Family: Asteraceae (Aster Family)
  • Synonyms: A. palmeri, A. purshiana
  • Subspecies:
    • Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. candicans
    • Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana
    • Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant is described as aromatic, potentially attracting curious animals.

Considerations for Children

  • The leaves are covered with woolly gray or white hairs, which could be a skin irritant to children sensitive to such textures.

Distribution and Habitat

Artemisia ludoviciana is a rhizomatous perennial native to North America, ranging from Baja California to Ontario, Canada, and as far south as Arkansas.

Morphological Characteristics

  • It is an aromatic, rhizomatous perennial, typically growing 3 to 19 decimeters (approximately 1 to 6 feet) tall.
  • The plant is simple up to the inflorescence and white-woolly, at least in the upper portions.
  • Leaves are lance-shaped, up to 4 inches long, silver-white, pubescent, and somewhat sage-like in appearance.
  • Its stems and foliage are covered with woolly gray or white hairs.

Ecological Role

The plant is noted as being rhizomatous and potentially aggressive.

Traditional uses

  • Historically used for disinfecting against gastro-intestinal complaints and kidney- and bladder problems

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • The plant's essential oil has shown repellent properties against rice weevils (Sitophilus oryzae) and lesser grain borers.