62 ORD. Ill. Composite. ARTEMISIA SANTONICA. 
Sp. Ch. A. foliis caulinis linearibus pinnato-multifidis, ramis 
indivisis, spicis secundis reflexis, floribus quinquefioris. 
THE root is perennial: the stem is round, smooth, branched, 
somewhat hoary, and rises about two feet in height: the lower 
leaves are divided into many narrow linear segments, standing in 
a pinnated order; those of the branches are sessile, narrow, and 
undivided ; they are all of a pale green on the upper side, and 
whitish beneath: the flawers are roundish, brown, and placed in 
spikes upon short slender alternate peduncles: the calyx is composed 
of numerous narrow scales: the florets are male and female, placed 
upon a naked receptacle, and in their situation and structure agree 
with the other species-of Artemisia already described. It is a 
native of Siberia, and flowers in September. 
This species, which was first cultivated in England by Mr. P. 
Miller,* we obtained at the Royal Garden at Kew; but whether it 
is the officinal Santonicum, or not, seems very doubtful.* 
It appears by the species plantarum, that though Linnzus first 
considered this plant to be the Santonicum, afterwards however he 
changed his opinion, and referred it to another species, named 
Artemisia Judaica; and in this he has been followed by Murray 
and Bergius; but as the evidence upon which this determination is 
founded, is admitted by Linnzus himself to be still inconclusive,* 
we have in conformity to the London College adopted the Arte- 
misia originally referred to. 
* See Aitan’s Hort. Kew. 
_ ¥ The following ebservation of Geoffroy on this subject is still, im some mea- 
sure, applicable:—-‘* Nulia quidem res in officinis magis usitata & cujus origo 
minus cognita sit. Num in Gallia proveniat, in Palestina, in Aigypto, vel in 
Persia, aut in solo regno, Bowtan, in India orientali remotissima.” M, M, vol. 
di. p. 466, 
* Mantissa, p. 111. & p. 281. And Mat. Med. sécond Edition. 
’ © He enumerates the seeds of this plan among those of the other plants hitherto 
not sufficiently ascertained. See his Preface to the Materia Medica. 
