common wormwood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Eurasian wormwood
• felon-herb
• lobed wormwood
• Mugwort
• felonherb
• green-ginger

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asterales, it is classified under the family Asteraceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Artemisia, specifically as the species Artemisia vulgaris.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide distribution across several regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark and Finland. Additionally, its presence extends to the Faroe Islands, which are known as Føroyar. The species is also commonly documented throughout Great Britain. Finally, its geographical range includes the island of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Artemisia vulgaris is characterized by its ability to colonize diverse environments, showing a particular affinity for anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), where it often thrives in disturbed soils, roadsides, and cultivated lands. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, successfully establishing itself across a significant vertical gradient that ranges from a minimum elevation of 450 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 2800 m AMSL. This wide elevational range suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing the plant to adapt to varying temperature regimes and atmospheric pressures across different montane and lowland landscapes.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

450 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Artemisia vulgaris are characterized by a notable degree of chromosomal polymorphism, which suggests a complex evolutionary history involving various polyploidization events. The species exhibits significant variation in its karyotype, with observed chromosome numbers including 16, 18, 24, 36, 45, and 54. This wide range of chromosomal counts indicates that the plant exists in multiple ploidy levels, ranging from diploidy to higher-order polyploidy. Such genetic plasticity is often linked to the plant's ability to adapt to diverse environmental niches and contributes to the chemical diversity of its secondary metabolites. The presence of these varied chromosome numbers highlights a dynamic genome that facilitates both evolutionary adaptation and the stabilization of different cytotypes within various populations.

Chromosome number :

16, 18, 24, 36, 45, 54

Life history

The life history of Artemisia vulgaris is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, it survives unfavorable periods by keeping its perennuating buds at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or soil. The plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually as it transitions through its seasonal cycles.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Artemisia vulgaris is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber or a liana, and it maintains an independent lifestyle, lacking any parasitic tendencies. This terrestrial species is neither aquatic nor an epiphyte, growing directly in soil environments. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits variable height, typically ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1.6 m, with an average plant height of approximately 1.4 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.6 m

Plant height mean:

1.4 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Artemisia vulgaris is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process optimized for moderate environments rather than the specialized carbon fixation seen in C4 or CAM plants. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on autotrophic nutrient acquisition through soil uptake and photosynthesis. The leaf morphology plays a critical role in its physiological efficiency, with a mean leaf size of 39.14426 cm² and a mean specific leaf area (SLA) of 241.22 cm²/g, suggesting a balanced approach to light interception and resource allocation. The leaves exhibit significant dimensional variability, with a mean leaf length of 6.5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 10 cm) and a mean width of 3.75 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 6 cm), adaptations that likely facilitate efficient gas exchange and transpiration management within its ecological niche.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

39.14426 cm²

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.75 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

241.22 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Artemisia vulgaris is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically occurs in August, with both the start and end of the blooming phase concentrated in that month. The plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically involving insects and bees to facilitate fertilization, and it is capable of self-fertilization. Following pollination, the plant produces dry, indehiscent fruits known as achenes. These fruits are quite small, ranging from 0.08 cm to 0.1 cm in length and 0.01 cm to 0.03 cm in width. The seeds contained within are similarly minute, with a mean mass of approximately 0.0001538335 g (ranging from 0.00012 g to 0.000206 g) and a mean volume of 0.145 mm³ (ranging from 0.14 mm³ to 0.15 mm³). Dispersal is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are primarily dispersed by the wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.1 cm

Fruit length min:

0.08 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.03 cm

Fruit width min:

0.01 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.000206 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0001538335 g

Seed mass min:

0.00012 g

Seed volume max:

0.15 mm³

Seed volume mean:

0.145 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.14 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Artemisia vulgaris has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower.

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Flower

1. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Artemisia vulgaris has 112 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Coumarins, Flavonoids, camphor, 1,8-Cineole, ALPHA-PINENE.

Coumarins

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research
2. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

camphor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of chemical ecology
3. Journal of bioscience and bioengineering

1,8-Cineole

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of bioscience and bioengineering

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of chemical ecology

BETA-PINENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of chemical ecology

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Eucalyptol

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of chemical ecology

Flavonoid

1. Journal of B.U.ON. : official journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Germacrene D

1. Journal of bioscience and bioengineering
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Artemisia vulgaris has 548 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, Antifungal.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of B.U.ON. : official journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology
3. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer

Antidiabetic

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

Antifungal

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of biomaterials science. Polymer edition
2. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer

Antiseptic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of B.U.ON. : official journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology

Antispasmodic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of B.U.ON. : official journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Hypolipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer

Conditions

Artemisia vulgaris has 27 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Staphylococcus aureus, antioxidant, asthma, Bacillus cereus, Candida albicans.

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of tropical medicine

Antioxidant

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Asthma

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Bacillus cereus

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Candida albicans

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Sars-cov-2

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Streptococcus mutans

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Anti-hypertensive

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Anti-malarial

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Anti-oxidant

1. Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.)

Preparations

Artemisia vulgaris has 16 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extracts, AVEO, Essential oils, MeOH extracts, Methanolic extracts.

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Aveo

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)

Essential oils

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Meoh extracts

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Methanolic extracts

1. Journal of tropical medicine

Chloroform (av-chcl(3)) extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chloroform crude extract (av-chcl(3))

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Essential oil

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Extracts

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flowering tops

1. Fitoterapia