tarragon

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• tarragon
• french-tarragon
• tarragon
• dragon sagewort
• dragon wormwood
• false tarragon
• linear-leaved wormwood
• tarragon sagewort
• wild tarragon
• French tarragon
• Russian tarragon
• silky wormwood

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Oligosporus dracunculus
• Draconia dracunculus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asterales, falling into the family Asteraceae. Finally, its taxonomic placement concludes within the genus Artemisia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing in both Great Britain and Norway. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species is also established in Middle Europe. Specifically, its range includes the territories of Austria and the Czechia-Slovakia region. Finally, the plant is documented as being present within Germany.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Artemisia dracunculus is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution and a diverse range of environmental settings. This species thrives across a significant elevational gradient, with its range extending from a minimum of 800 m AMSL to a maximum of 4400 m AMSL, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 2616.67 m AMSL. Its habitat preferences are notably varied, allowing it to colonize distinct ecosystems including arctic regions, forested areas, riparian zones near rivers, and expansive tundra landscapes.

Elevational range max:

4400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2616.66666666667 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

800 m AMSL

Habitat :

arctic, forest, rivers, tundra

Life history

The life history of Artemisia dracunculus is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth and survival strategy, the species is classified as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennable buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or the substrate during unfavorable conditions. This life form, specifically identified as a hemicryptophyte, ensures its ability to regenerate annually from these protected buds, facilitating its long-term survival in its natural habitat.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Artemisia dracunculus is characterized by its growth form as a woody herb and forb, functioning as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or vine. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, lacking parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 2 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.8875 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

0.8875 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Artemisia dracunculus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing standard carbon fixation processes typical of many temperate herbs. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil-based nutrient uptake rather than capturing prey, and it does not function as a nitrogen fixer, necessitating a reliance on available soil nitrogen. Morphologically, its foliage displays specific dimensional variations; the leaves typically maintain a mean length of 5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 7 cm. The width of the leaves is relatively narrow, with a mean width of 0.29 cm, fluctuating between a minimum of 0.2 cm and a maximum of 0.6 cm.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length mean:

5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

0.6 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.29 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Artemisia dracunculus is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period is concentrated in the month of August, during which the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome primarily mediated by insects. Upon successful pollination, the plant is capable of self-fertilization. The resulting fruit is classified as an achene, which is indehiscent in nature. The seeds produced are quite small, with a mean mass of 0.000183 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00009 g to a maximum of 0.00014 g. For the distribution of offspring, the species employs an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind to transport its light seeds to new locations.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00014 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000183 g

Seed mass min:

9e-05 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Artemisia dracunculus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Current medical mycology
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Chemicals

Artemisia dracunculus has 217 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Estragole, LIMONENE, ascorbic acid, eugenol, (-)-(R)-2'-methoxydihydroartemidin.

Estragole

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia
3. Journal of natural products
4. Dental research journal

LIMONENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

ascorbic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

eugenol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

(-)-(R)-2'-methoxydihydroartemidin

1. Journal of natural products

(E)-Artemidin

1. Dr. Duke

(Z)-Artemidin

1. Dr. Duke

1,2-Dimethoxy-4-allyl benzene

1. Dr. Duke

1,8-Cineol

1. Dr. Duke

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Artemisia dracunculus has 823 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antifungal, Analgesic, Antiepileptic, Antiinflammatory.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current medical mycology
3. Dental research journal

Antifungal

1. Current medical mycology
2. Dental research journal
3. Journal of natural products

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antiepileptic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Dental research journal
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Conditions

Artemisia dracunculus has 19 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include E. coli, Helicobacter pylori, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, antidepressant.

E. coli

1. Iranian journal of microbiology

Helicobacter pylori

1. World journal of gastroenterology

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Staphylococcus epidermidis

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Antidepressant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Blood glucose

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Cancer

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Dental caries

1. Current medical mycology

Digestive system diseases

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Preparations

Artemisia dracunculus has 12 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include EO, EOs, aqueous extract, cell tissue, essential oil.

Eo

1. Iranian journal of microbiology

Eos

1. Iranian journal of microbiology

Aqueous extract

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Cell tissue

1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Essential oil

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Ethanolic extract

1. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association

Extracts of artemisia dracunculus cell tissue

1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Herb

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Hydroalcoholic extract

1. Current drug discovery technologies

Leaf

1. Frontiers in pharmacology