Artemisia santonicum

Artemisia santonicum
Artemisia santonicum in Serbia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Artemisia
Species:	A. santonicum
Binomial name
Artemisia santonicum L. 1753
Synonyms [1]
Artemisia mutabilisSalisb., nom. superfl. Seriphidium santonicum(L.) Soják

Artemisia santonicum (saline wormwood ^[2] ) is a species of wormwood native to eastern Europe and western Asia, from Austria east through the Balkans, Ukraine and southern Russia to Kazakhstan, and also through Turkey to Iran. ^[1]

There are two subspecies, which overlap in parts of southeast Europe: ^[1]

• Artemisia santonicum subsp. santonicum – in the eastern and central parts of the range
• Artemisia santonicum subsp. patens(Neilr.) K.Perss. – in the western part of the range

Description and similar species

Saline wormwood is a herbaceous perennial plant or subshrub growing to 20–60 cm tall. It has strongly aromatic foliage, usually greyish-green to whitish-green, but can become glabrous green with wear. The leaves are deeply twice to thrice pinnatifid, with narrow, linear segments 0.7–1 mm broad, and are covered on both sides with a dense coat of white hairs. The small, oblong flower heads are 1–2 mm diameter, are of a yellowish or brownish tint; they are produced in September to October, and are arranged in racemes, sometimes drooping, sometimes erect. ^[3]

It has often been erroneously reported as the closely related north European Artemisia maritima . ^[4]

Habitat

It occurs on saline soils, being found on the drier parts of saltmarshes, brackish ditches, saltpans, sea cliffs, and coastal shingle.

• 
  Foliage. Dried-out small salt lake near Neusiedl am See, Burgenland, Austria.
• 
  Flowers; erect form. Same site as left.
• 
  Flowers; drooping form. Same site as left.

References

1. "Plants of the World Online". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
2. "Saline Wormwood (Artemisia santonicum)". iNaturalist. 2023-06-26. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
3. Fischer, Manfred A. (2008). Exkursionsflora für Österreich, Liechtenstein und Südtirol (in German). Linz: Biologiezentrum der Oberösterreichischen Landesmuseen. p. 683. ISBN   978-3-85474-187-9.
4. Soják, (L.); Waldst. & Hegi, Kit.); Poljakov, Kit.). "Artemisia santonicum". Euro+Med-Plantbase. Retrieved 2024-11-09.