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2007-09-24T10:52:21Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Sea Wormwood
| image = Artemisia-maritima.JPG
| image_width = 220px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asterales]]
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
| genus = ''[[Artemisia (plant)|Artemisia]]''
| species = '''''A. maritima'''''
| binomial = ''Artemisia maritima''
}}

'''Sea Wormwood''' (''Artemesia maritima''), also known as 'Old Woman'.



==Habitat==

In [[British Isles|Britain]] it is found as far as [[Wigton]] on the West and [[Aberdeen]] on the East; also in north-east [[Ireland]] and in the [[Channel Islands]].

The Sea Wormwood, in its many variations of form, has an extremely wide distribution in the [[northern hemisphere]] of the [[Old World]], occurring mostly in saltish soils. It is found in the salt [[marshes]] of the [[British Isles]], on the coasts of the [[Baltic Sea|Baltic]], of [[France]] and the [[Mediterranean]], and on saline soils in [[Hungary]]; thence it extends eastwards, covering immense tracts in Southern [[Russia]], the region of the [[Caspian Sea]] and Central [[Siberia]] to Chinese [[Mongolia]].

==Description==

It somewhat resembles [[Arteroesis Absinthium]], but is smaller. The stems rise about a foot or 18 inches in height. The leaves are twice [[pinnatifid]], with narrow, linear segments, and, like the whole plant, are covered on both sides with a white cottony [[down (plant)|down]]. The small, oblong flower-heads - each containing three to six tubular florets - are of a yellowish or brownish tint; they are produced in August and September, and are arranged in racemes, sometimes drooping, sometimes erect.

Popularly this species is called ''Old Woman'', in distinction to ''Old Man'' or Southern-wood, which it somewhat resembles, though it is more delicate-looking and lacks the peculiar refreshing scent of 'Old Man.' [[Dr. Hill]] says of this species:
''This is a very noble bitter: its peculiar province is to give an appetite, as that of the [[Common Wormwood]] is to assist [[digestion]]; the flowery tops and the young [[shoots]] possess the virtue: the older [[Leaves]] and the [[Stalk (botany)|Stalk]] should be thrown away as useless .... The [[apothecaries]] put three times as much sugar as of the ingredient in their [[Conserves]]; but the virtue is lost in the sweetness, those will not keep so well that have less [[sugar]], but 'tis easy to make them fresh as they are wanted.''

The plant abounds in salt marshes in which cattle have been observed to fatten quickly, and thus the herb has acquired the reputation of being beneficial to them, but they do not eat it generally, and the richness of maritime pasturage must be regarded as the true reason of their improvement under such circumstances.

==Part Used==

The flowering tops and young shoots are used, collected and dried in the same manner as Wormwood.

==Medicinal Action and Uses==

The plant possesses the same properties as the other Wormwoods, but is less powerful. It is a bitter tonic and aromatic.
Although it is not now employed in regular medical practice, it is often made use of by country people for [[intermittent fever]], and for various other medicinal purposes instead of the true Wormwood.

[[Thornton]], in his Family Herbal, tells us that
''beat up with thrice its weight of fine sugar, it is made up into a conserve ordered by the [[London College]], and may be taken where the other preparations disgust too much.''

It acts as a [[tonic]] and is good in worm cases, and [[Nicholas Culpeper|Culpeper]] gives the following uses for it:
''Boiling water poured upon it produces an excellent stomachic infusion, but the best way is taking it in a tincture made with brandy. [[Hysteric]] complaints have been completely cured by the constant use of this tincture. In the scurvy and in the [[hypochondria|hypo-chondriacal]] disorders of studious, sedentary men, few things have a greater effect: for these it is best in strong infusion. The whole blood and all the juices of the body are effected by taking this herb. It is often used in medicine instead of the [[Roman Wormwood]], though it falls far short of it in virtue.''

[[Category:Artemisia]]

Artemisia maritima - Revision history

MediaWiki default at 10:52, 24 September 2007