Artemisia arborescens L.

Spice In the field

Family: COMPOSITAE (ASTERACEAE)

Genus: Artemisia

Catalan common name: Donzell. Donzell arbustiu. Donzell bord. Donzell de muntanya.

Spanish common name: Ajenjo de montaña. Ajenjo moruno.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): South Mediterranean

Uses and properties: Aromatic. Edible or foodstuffs. Medicinal.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Nanophanerophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Garden plants. Cultivated specie and sometimes naturalizated in coastal areas.

Characteristics: A greyish bush of more or less one metre in height, with greatly divided leaves, with a linear, aromatic segment. The capitula are spherical with yellow flowers, without a ligule, which are grouped in panicles at the top of the branches. It flowers practically in summer. It lives near houses and along path-sides; it is a Mediterranean plant but was introduced into the islands in ancient times.