Wildflowers of the Stuttgart Area
Artemisia absinthium
| Family : | ASTERACEAE |
| Common Name (UK) : | Common Wormwood |
| Common Name (DE) : | Wermut |
| Common Name (FR) : | Armoise absinthe |
| Habitat : | waste land, alluvium, scree; soils rich in nitrogen. |
| Remarks : | Was used to make a liquor (Absinthe) which was discovered to be toxic to the central nervous system and was banned.
It continues to be used to make Vermouth and the dried leaves are used to flavor tea in North Africa. "The intensely bitter, tonic and stimulant qualities have caused Wormwood not only to be an ingredient in medicinal preparations, but also to be used in various liqueurs, of which absinthe is the chief, the basis of absinthe being absinthol, extracted from Wormwood. Wormwood, as employed in making this liqueur, bears also the name 'Wermuth' - preserver of the mind - from its medicinal virtues as a nervine and mental restorative. If not taken habitually, it soothes spinal irritability and gives tone to persons of a highly nervous temperament. Suitable allowances of the diluted liqueur will promote salutary perspiration and may be given as a vermifuge. Inferior absinthe is generally adulterated with copper, which produces the characteristic green colour." from Botanical.com |
| First appearing : | August |
| Abundance : |
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