Mugwort (Artemisia indica) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Indian wormwood, a kind of mugwort from East and South Asia, has deeply cut leaves with pale, hairy undersides. In the eastern United States, look out for the similar common mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris).

Appearance

Appearance: Stems can reach about 2–4 ft (60–120 cm). The leaves are alternate and deeply divided, and the underside looks whitish because of dense hairs.
Growth form: It is an nonwoody that returns for more than one year.
Leaves: The leaf shape varies, but the lower lobes and pale underside are useful features to photograph.
Flowers: The are tiny and lack the showy petal-like parts seen on daisies.
Fruit: It produces small, dry, one-seeded fruits called .

Look-alikes

Common mugwortArtemisia vulgaris

Common mugwort grows in disturbed places in Maryland. Its deeply cut leaves resemble those of this species, so a casual photo may not settle the species; include the whole plant and mature flower clusters.

Why they get mixed upBoth are perennials with deeply cut leaves.

Where it lives

Range: It is native from the Indian subcontinent to Japan and the Philippines. Its wild status in the United States is unclear.
Preferred conditions: In Korea, it grows in sunny grasslands, around fields, and along woodland edges.

Name and classification

About the name: In the United States, “mugwort” usually means common mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), a different species.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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