Artemisia arborescens L.
hedge artemisia
Strongly aromatic, spreading shrub, not dying back in winter. Stems erect, densely sericeous, becoming glabrous below, ribbed, up to 3 m tall, much-branched toward base. Lvs clustered toward tips of stems, densely sericeous on upper and lower surface, petiolate, 1-pinnate with leaflets 1-2-pinnatisect, up to c. 15 × 10 cm in lower lvs; ultimate segments narrow-oblong to linear, obtuse to subacute, 5-70 × 1.5-5 mm, with only central vein evident. Infl. paniculate; infl. lvs similar to cauline lvs but becoming apetiolate and 1-pinnatisect, finally reduced to < 1 cm long and not lobed. Involucral bracts sericeous, with narrow membranous margins and apex. Capitula (3)-4-7 mm diam.; receptacle pilose; florets many, cream to bright yellow, glabrous. Achenes not seen.
N.: Ohiwa (Opotiki District, Bay of Plenty), Wellington City; S.: Pohara Beach (Takaka, Nelson), St. Clair and Port Chalmers (Dunedin).
Mediterranean 1988
Coastal sands and cliffs, occasional cultivation escape.
FL Oct-Jan.
This sp. is widely grown as a hedging plant in areas free from heavy frost. It is similar to A. absinthium, but can be distinguished by the habit, longer lf segments and earlier flowering.
