Japanese wormwood
Artemisia japonica

Family: Asteraceae

What it is like

A herb. It grows 50-90 cm high. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a woody rootstock 2-3 cm thick. The leaves are clustered at the top. The leaves are spoon shaped and 4-8 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. There are lobes along the stalk and teeth along the edge.

There are about 300 Artemisia species. It is used as a medicine in Nepal.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. In Pakistan it grows in mixed gravely sands between 500-1,200 m above sea level. In China it grows from low elevations to 3,300 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Japan, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, SE Asia, Sikkim, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Young leaves are roasted and eaten with soy sauce. They are boiled, fried or stir-fried and used as a potherb or added to soups. They are also used for colouring and flavouring.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers

How it is grown

It is grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Burnak, Cuu rung, Jebissuk, Ngai, Otoko-yomogi, Pha-let-wa

Synonyms

Artemisia glabra DC; Artemisia parviflora Roxb. ex D.Don;