Artemisia

Artemisia is a genus of flowering plants, family Asteraceae, comprising nearly 500 species, with Plants of the World Online accepting almost 500 species as of a June 2024 count, commonly called mugwort, wormwood or sagebrush depending on species. Found on every continent except Antarctica, the genus grows primarily in temperate climates, often in dry or semiarid habitats, as hardy herbaceous plants and shrubs; leaves of many species are covered with white hairs, and most species produce strong aromas and bitter tastes from terpenoids and sesquiterpene lactones, along with powerful chemical constituents in their essential oils. Flowers are small and wind-pollinated; notable species include common mugwort, big sagebrush, sagewort, wormwood, tarragon and southernwood.