Akha
Artemisia indica
EOL Text
The plant was originally brought from Asia as an ornamental (Collins 2000). It is sometimes grown for personal use, especially as an alternative medicinal plant. The fresh roots and flowers of Artemisia vulgaris are usually steeped as a tea to help ease the symptoms of cancer, epilepsy, to dispel parasitic worms, as an antiseptic, to aid digestion, to promote sweating, to promote menstruation and/or abortion, to ease congestion of the chest/throat, to improve nervous system function, to ease muscle spasms, as an antidote to opium, and to treat asthma (Duke 1985). Additionally, it is burned to ward off mosquitoes, and is said to cause divinational dreams and clairvoyance when a person sleeps breathing in a pillow filled with the fresh plant. Additionally, it is used as an indicator of pollution because it can grow in soil that is contaminated with heavy metals when more susceptible species cannot (Kovács et. al 1992).
This taxon can be found in the Montana valley and foothill grasslands ecoregions, along with some other North American ecoregions. This ecoregion occupies high valleys and foothill regions in the central Rocky Mountains of Montana in the USA and Alberta, Canada. The ecoregion the uppermost flatland reaches of the Missouri River drainage involving part of the Yellowstone River basin, and extends into the Clark Fork-Bitterroot drainage of the Columbia River system. The ecoregion, consisting of three chief disjunctive units, also extends marginally into a small portion of northern Wyoming. Having moderate vertebrate species richness, 321 different vertebrate taxa have been recorded here.
The dominant vegetation type of this ecoregion consists chiefly of wheatgrass (Agropyron spp.) and fescue (Festuca spp.). Certain valleys, notably the upper Madison, Ruby, and Red Rock drainages of southwestern Montana, are distinguished by extensive sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) communities as well. This is a reflection of semi-arid conditions caused by pronounced rain shadow effects and high elevation. Thus, near the Continental Divide in southwestern Montana, the ecoregion closely resembles the nearby Snake/Columbia shrub steppe.
A number of mammalian species are found in the ecoregion, including: American Pika (Ochotona princeps), a herbivore preferring talus habitat; Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis), Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus), who live in underground towns that may occupy vast areas; Brown Bear (Ursos arctos); Hoary Marmot (Marmota caligata), a species who selects treeless meadows and talus as habitat; and the Northern River Otter (Lontra canadensis), a species that can tolerate fresh or brackish water and builds its den in the disused burrows of other animals.
There are six distinct anuran species that can be found in the Montana valleys and foothills grasslands, including: Canadian Toad (Anaxyrus hemiophrys); Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas); Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens); Plains Spadefoot Toad (Spea bombifrons); Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris), an anuran that typically breeds in shallow quiet ponds; and the Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata).
Exactly two amphibian taxa occurr in the ecoregion: Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum), a species who prefers lentic waters and spends most of its life hidden under bark or soil; Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum).
Reptilian species within the ecoregion are: Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum), an adaptable taxon that can be found on rocky slopes, prairie and near streambeds; Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta); Western Plains Garter Snake (Thamnophis radix), a taxon that can hibernate in the burrows of rodents or crayfish or even hibernate underwater; Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor); Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera); Western Terrestrial Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans); Rubber Boa (Charina bottae); Western Skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus); and the Western Rattlesnake (Crotalis viridis).
The ecoregion supports endemic and relict fisheries: Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi), Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri), and fluvial Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus), a relict species from past glaciation.
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Rights holder/Author | cc-by-nc-sa 3.0 |
Source | http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/51cbee767896bb431f69805a/539fc5d20cf226e0bdc005d4/?topic=51cbfc77f702fc2ba8129ab9 |
Canada
Origin: Exotic
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Unknown/Undetermined
Confidence: Confident
United States
Origin: Exotic
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Present
Confidence: Confident
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Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Artemisia+vulgaris |
The flowerheads attract few insects because they are wind-pollinated. While the shrubby Artemisia spp. (Sagebrushes) of the western states are valuable to various kinds of wildlife, birds and mammals appear to make little use of the herbaceous Artemisia spp. that occur in the Midwest and NE states. The slightly aromatic foliage of Mugwort is bitter-tasting and toxic, containing cinerole and thujone. This latter substance is a neurotoxin. While Mugwort has been used in herbal medicine in the past, it can cause a variety of neurological problems and adverse reactions. Photographic Location
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/mugwort.htm |
Nile region.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Bibliotheca Alexandrina, BA Cultnat, Bibliotheca Alexandrina - EOL Ar |
Source | http://lifedesk.bibalex.org/ba/pages/1959 |
Foodplant / sap sucker
Brachycaudus cardui sucks sap of Artemisia vulgaris
Plant / resting place / on
puparium of Calycomyza artemisiae may be found on leaf of Artemisia vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
sometimes in rows pycnidium of Camposporium coelomycetous anamorph of Camarosporium aequivocum is saprobic on dead stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Remarks: season: 4-5
Foodplant / gall
Cryptosiphum artemesiae causes gall of curled over, bloated, red or yellow leaf of Artemisia vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
immersed perithecium of Diaporthe arctii var. artemisiae is saprobic on dead stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Remarks: season: 3-7
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / saprobe
scattered, sometimes linearly arranged, covered, brown, pore darker pycnidium of Diplodina coelomycetous anamorph of Diplodina artemisiae is saprobic on dead stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Remarks: season: 5
Foodplant / gall
Eriophyes artemisiae causes gall of leaf of Artemisia vulgaris
Foodplant / parasite
hypophyllous cleistothecium of Erysiphe artemisiae parasitises yellowed leaf of Artemisia vulgaris
Remarks: season: 9-10
Foodplant / saprobe
superficial, scattered on in small groups, thinly subiculate perithecium of Hydropisphaera arenula is saprobic on dead stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Remarks: season: 1-12
Foodplant / saprobe
immersed pseudothecium of Lewia scrophulariae is saprobic on dead stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Plant / resting place / on
puparium of Liriomyza artemisicola may be found on leaf of Artemisia vulgaris
Other: sole host/prey
Foodplant / miner
larva of Liriomyza demeijerei mines leaf of Artemisia vulgaris
Other: sole host/prey
Plant / resting place / within
puparium of Melanagromyza dettmeri may be found in stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
sessile apothecium of Mollisia coerulans is saprobic on dead stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Remarks: season: 4-6
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
pseudothecium of Mycosphaerella osborniae is saprobic on dead stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Remarks: season: 8
Foodplant / parasite
hypophyllous, effuse colony of Cercospora dematiaceous anamorph of Mycovellosiella ferruginea parasitises live leaf of Artemisia vulgaris
Remarks: season: 9-10
Plant / associate
Orius niger is associated with Artemisia vulgaris
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / miner
caterpillar of Ostrinia nubilalis mines live stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Oxyna parietina feeds within stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Paroxyna absinthii feeds within capitulum of Artemisia vulgaris
Foodplant / internal feeder
second generation larva of Paroxyna misella feeds within capitulum of Artemisia vulgaris
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
short-stalked apothecium of Pezizella discreta is saprobic on dead stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Remarks: season: 10-11
Foodplant / saprobe
densely gregarious, abundant pycnidium of Phomopsis coelomycetous anamorph of Phomopsis oblita is saprobic on dead stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Remarks: season: 5
Foodplant / miner
larva of Phytomyza artemisivora mines leaf of Artemisia vulgaris
Other: sole host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
erumpent apothecium of Pirottaea nigrostriata is saprobic on dead stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Foodplant / sap sucker
nymph of Plagiognathus albipennis sensu S. & L. sucks sap of Artemisia vulgaris
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / parasite
hypophyllous telium of Puccinia tanaceti parasitises live stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Remarks: season: 7-9
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
erumpent apothecium of Pyrenopeziza artemisiae is saprobic on dead stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Remarks: season: 4-5
Plant / associate
larva of Triglyphus primus is associated with aphid galled Artemisia vulgaris
Foodplant / miner
larva of Trypeta artemisiae mines leaf of Artemisia vulgaris
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / miner
larva of Trypeta zoe mines leaf of Artemisia vulgaris
Foodplant / saprobe
apothecium of Urceolella crispula is saprobic on dead stem of Artemisia vulgaris
Remarks: season: 5-11
Other: minor host/prey
North Africa, Europe, Turkey, eastwards to Caucasus, northern Iraq, Iran, Siberia, introduced into north America.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Bibliotheca Alexandrina, BA Cultnat, Bibliotheca Alexandrina - EOL Ar |
Source | http://lifedesk.bibalex.org/ba/pages/1959 |
Fl. Per.:August-November.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=200023371 |
Artemisia vulgaris has a very large distribution in most of Europe, Asia and Algeria and Tunisia in Africa. It is native to west Asia and Europe, in addition to extensive naturalization throughout North America and some of South America (USDA 2008).
Perennial.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | Bibliotheca Alexandrina, BA Cultnat, Bibliotheca Alexandrina - EOL Ar |
Source | http://lifedesk.bibalex.org/ba/pages/1959 |