seeds of Artemisia argyi, Silvery Wormwood

Artemisia argyi, commonly called the silvery wormwood, is herbaceous plant species of the family Asteraceae. Synonyms include Artemisia chiarugii, Artemisia nutans, and Artemisia nutantiflora. Another common name for the plant is Chinese mugwort. The plant’s native home stretches across several countries. These countries include China, Japan, Mongolia, Korea and the far eastern regions of Russia. Artemisia argyi can grow to a height of 100 cm. This greyish plant has an upright stem and short branches that carry ovate leaves that are 6 cm long. The leaves also have serrated margins and glands on their surface that secrete oil. Flowers are yellow, tube-shaped and grow in clusters. Artemisia argyi is a highly aromatic plant. Chinese traditional medicinal practices value the plant for the herbal remedies it provides. Many consider the plant’s pungency and bitterness to be consistent with those of kidney and liver meridians. The plant purportedly has antiseptic, styptic and expectorant qualities that make it ideal for improving wellness. The effects of ingesting the remedy may include stimulation of menstruation and the treatment of coughs, asthma, and infertility. The remedies also supposedly treat dysmenorrhea. The Chinese also extract the oil from the leaves and use them for the treatment of bronchitis and asthma. The leaves have an antimicrobial property that’s effective against Bacillus typhi, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus dysenteriae, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus aureus. A non-medicinal use of the plant involves using its fibres as the binding agent present in seal stamping paste. Artemisia argyi mostly grows in coastal scrub, river banks, mountain slopes, wastelands, and on the edges of railway tracks and roads. The poorer the soil the plant grows in, the more aromatic it gets. Artemisia argyi prefers soils that have a pH that’s either slightly alkaline or neutral. The plant also prefers growing in direct sunlight rather than in the shade.