SafePlants

Artemisia tilesii: Tilesius' Wormwood

Artemisia tilesii, belonging to the Asteraceae (Aster) family, is known by several common names, including Tilesius' wormwood, Aleutian mugwort, stinkweed, Kamtschat's Wormwood, and Aleutina Mugwort. It's also referred to simply as wormwood or sagebrush, reflecting its placement within the Artemisia genus.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Artemisia tilesii Ledeb.
• Family: Asteraceae (Aster)
• Genus: Artemisia L.
• Rank: Species
• Subspecies: Several subspecies are mentioned, including Artemisia tilesii ssp. elatior (Torr. & A. Gray) Hultn and Artemisia tilesii ssp. gormanii (Rydb.) Hultn, Artemisia tilesii ssp. tilesii, and Artemisia tilesii ssp. unalaschcensis.
• Synonyms: (The provided text indicates the presence of synonyms but does not explicitly list them.)

Distribution and Habitat

Artemisia tilesii is native to both Asian and North American regions. It has been observed at locations such as East Fork Chulitna Wayside in Alaska and is found in the Northwest Territories of Canada (Tuktoyaktuk).

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Artemisia tilesii is a perennial plant, growing up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall.
• The stems are erect, rising directly from the woody base.
• It is classified as a subshrub, forb/herb.
• The flowers are hermaphrodite, possessing both male and female organs.
• It has green foliage and yellow flowers.

Ecological Interactions

• The plant's flowers are pollinated by insects.

Cultivation

• It can be propagated via container, cuttings, or seed.
• Once established, it demonstrates drought tolerance.

Considerations for Pets

• Some references refer to it as "stinkweed" indicating a potentially pungent odor that might be of interest to some animals.

Historical and Traditional Uses

• The text mentions "Eskimo Drug (Cancer Treatment)" in connection with Artemisia tilesii, although the context and efficacy are not detailed.
• Artemisia absinthium (absinth wormwood), a related species, has been historically used to repel fleas and moths, as well as in brewing.

Quirky Facts

• A cultivar of Artemisia tilesii named 'Caiggluk' was developed by the Alaska Plant Materials Center in Palmer.

Further Information

• Discover Life offers a page on the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Artemisia tilesii.
• The Montana Field Guide may contain high-quality photos and identification information.
• Encyclopedia of Life includes information about the distribution of Artemisia tilesii.