Artemisia suksdorfii
Encyclopedia
Artemisia suksdorfii is a species of sagebrush known by the common names coastal mugwort, coastal wormwood, and Suksdorf sagewort.
It is native to coastal western North America from British Columbia
to northern California
, and it is also known from the Channel Islands of California
. It grows in coastal drainages and other habitat near the ocean. This is a rhizomatous
perennial herb producing many erect stems one half to two meters in height. The unbranched stems are brownish and have woody bases. The leaves are narrow and lobed, green and hairless on top and white and woolly underneath. The inflorescence
is generally spike-like, up to 30 centimeters long and a few wide. It contains many clusters of small flower heads
with shiny yellow-green phyllaries
and yellow disc and pistillate florets. The fruit is a tiny achene
less than a millimeter long.
It is native to coastal western North America from British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
to northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and it is also known from the Channel Islands of California
Channel Islands of California
The Channel Islands of California are a chain of eight islands located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California along the Santa Barbara Channel in the United States of America...
. It grows in coastal drainages and other habitat near the ocean. This is a rhizomatous
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
perennial herb producing many erect stems one half to two meters in height. The unbranched stems are brownish and have woody bases. The leaves are narrow and lobed, green and hairless on top and white and woolly underneath. The inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
is generally spike-like, up to 30 centimeters long and a few wide. It contains many clusters of small flower heads
Head (botany)
The capitulum is considered the most derived form of inflorescence. Flower heads found outside Asteraceae show lesser degrees of specialization....
with shiny yellow-green phyllaries
Bract
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis, or cone scale. Bracts are often different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of a different color, shape, or texture...
and yellow disc and pistillate florets. The fruit is a tiny achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
less than a millimeter long.