126 PLANTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



The first of these is a brownish, dirty, insignificant plant, 

 low, and even prostrate in the dust, beside roads ; common every- 

 where. 



Artemisia. L. 17. 2. Wormwood. 



Named perhaps after Artemisia, queen of Mausolus. Many 

 species of the genus, chiefly on the eastern continent. 



Jl. abrotanum. L. Southernwood. An exotic of our gar- 

 dens from the South of Europe, named from its supposed virtue 

 in prolonging life, from the Greek, against mortality ; now con- 

 sidered to possess feeble medicinal properties. 



A. absynthium. L. Garden Wormwood. Another well- 

 known exotic from Europe ; its name is from the Greek, un- 

 pleasant ; said to be tonic, antispasmodic, and anthelmintic ; also 

 considered efficacious on wounds and bruises. Used to boil with 

 clothes to take out stains and iron rust, probably from its contain- 

 ing oxalic acid. Naturalized in many places. In New Ashford, 

 Berkshire County, it fills the street for many rods, and a few 

 years ago loads of it were cut and distilled for obtaining the oil of 

 wormwood. It has compound hoary leaves. 



^. vulgaris. L. Mugwort. A native of Britain, and not 

 often cultivated. 



A. Canadensis. Mx. Wild Wormwood. A small plant, 

 with a stem somewhat woody ; leaves of many segments, and 

 numerous flowers. Found in the vicinity of Amherst College, 

 and on the beach at Plumb Island. 



Anthemis. L. 17. 2. 



A. cotula. L. Mayweed. From the Greek for a ^otwcr ; a 

 low plant, too common on the roadsides and about houses to need 

 description ; has some medicinal virtues ; native of Britain. 



^. nobilis. L. From Britain ; affords the common chamo- 

 mile flowers. 



