REPORT

Invasive Plant Details

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Wormwood

Latin Name: Artemisia absinthium

Priority Ranking: Low Priority

Identification

Flower: Small, yellow, button-like flower heads that bloom from late summer to early fall.

Leaves: Deeply divided, silvery-green, and covered in fine hairs, with a strong aromatic smell.

Stems: Erect, woody at the base, and branching, growing up to 1.5 meters tall.

Growing Environment: Prefers dry, well-drained soils in fields, roadsides, and disturbed areas.

Growth Habit: A perennial herb that spreads by seeds and rhizomes, forming loose clumps. It often creates large, bushy patches in open habitats. In situ, wormwood appears as tall, silvery-green plants with a strong aroma in dry, open areas.

Priority Ranking: Low Priority

Impacts on Environment

Impacts: Moderately invasive in disturbed areas, where it can spread and form dense patches.

Toxicity: Toxic if consumed in large quantities due to thujone, which can cause neurological symptoms.