tree wormwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Hedge Artemisia
• Shrubby Mugwort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Absinthium arborescens
• Absinthium argenteum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Asterales and is a member of the Asteraceae family. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Artemisia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated throughout Southwestern Europe. It can be found growing in the Balearic Islands, which are part of the Baleares archipelago. The species is also present on the island of Corsica and across the mainland of France. Additionally, its range extends to the coastal regions of Portugal. Finally, the plant is documented inhabiting the territory of Sardegna.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Artemisia arborescens is fundamentally defined by its preference for coastal environments, where it has adapted to the unique stressors of maritime landscapes. Occupying these specialized habitats, the plant thrives in regions characterized by high salt spray, sandy or rocky substrates, and significant exposure to wind and solar radiation. Its distribution within coastal zones suggests a high tolerance for saline conditions and potentially well-drained soils typical of shorelines. The species plays a functional role in these ecosystems by stabilizing coastal soil structures and interacting with the specific microclimates created by the proximity to the ocean, facilitating nutrient cycling within these sensitive maritime niches.

Habitat :

Coastal

Life history

The life history of Artemisia arborescens is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence within its ecological niche. In terms of its structural growth strategy, it functions as a chamaephyte, meaning its perennating buds are located close to the ground level, often just above or at the soil surface, which provides a level of protection against environmental stressors such as frost or herbivory. This combination of a multi-year lifecycle and a low-growing life form enables the species to maintain stability and resilience within its habitat over extended periods.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Artemisia arborescens is characterized by its growth form as a woody subshrub or shrub, exhibiting a self-supporting structure rather than acting as a climber. This plant is a terrestrial species, functioning as an independent organism that is neither an epiphyte nor a parasite. In terms of physical dimensions, it reaches a plant height ranging from a minimum of 1 meter to a maximum of 3 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Growth form :

subshrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Artemisia arborescens is characterized by distinct morphological variations in its foliage that support its metabolic processes and environmental adaptation. The leaf dimensions exhibit a significant range, reflecting the plant's developmental plasticity and structural efficiency. Specifically, the leaf length fluctuates between a minimum of 5 cm and a maximum of 10 cm, providing a variable surface area optimized for photosynthetic activity and gas exchange. Complementing this longitudinal variation, the leaf width ranges from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 7 cm. These dimensional parameters collectively influence the plant's transpiration rates and its ability to regulate thermal energy within the canopy, ensuring robust physiological function across varying microclimatic conditions.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

7 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Artemisia arborescens is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insect vectors to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces a fruit categorized as an achene. These fruits are notably indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release their seeds, but rather remain intact.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Artemisia arborescens has 13 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, 15(S)-HETE, Arborescin, Artemitin, Chamazulene.

Flavonoids

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

15(S)-HETE

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Arborescin

1. Planta medica

Artemitin

1. Planta medica

Chamazulene

1. Natural product communications

Chrysoeriol

1. Planta medica

Chrysoeriol 4-glucoside

1. Planta medica

Dihydroridentin

1. Planta medica

Tannins

1. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

apigenin

1. Planta medica

Activities

Artemisia arborescens has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antihyperglycemic, Antihyperlipidemic, Nephroprotective.

Antihyperglycemic

1. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

Antihyperlipidemic

1. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

Nephroprotective

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Conditions

Artemisia arborescens has 10 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, cancer, lung diseases, mycoplasma infections.

Antihyperglycemic

1. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

Antihyperlipidemic

1. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Lung diseases

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Mycoplasma infections

1. Tropical animal health and production

Neuralgia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Prostate cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Psoriasis

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Tumors

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Urticaria

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Artemisia arborescens has 10 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extract, essential oil, ethanolic extract, extract in drinking water, feed-supplementation.

Aqueous extract

1. Planta medica
2. Cardiovascular & hematological agents in medicinal chemistry

Essential oil

1. Natural product communications

Ethanolic extract

1. Planta medica

Extract in drinking water

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Feed-supplementation

1. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

Ground aerial parts

1. Planta medica

Hydroalcoholic extract

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Methanol crude extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Methanolic extracts

1. Tropical animal health and production

Ritual bathing of newborns

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine