1068 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III, 



Genus V. 



.il\TEMrS/^I Cass. The Artemisia. Lin. Syst. Syngenesia Superflua. 



Identification. Cassini, according to Lessing in his Synop. Gen. Compos., p. 264. ; Ait. Hort. Kew., 



ed. 2, v. 5. p. 2. 

 Derivation. From Artemis, one of the names of Diana ; ov, as some suppose, from Artemisia, the 



wife of Mausolus : there is a cypress-like and drooping character in some of the species, that may 

 be associated with the latter etymology. 



Description. Woody or suffrutescent evergreen plants, natives of Europe 

 and Asia; all of them highly fragrant and aromatic, and all of them of the 

 easiest culture in any dry soil. 



* 1. A. Jbro'tanum L. The Abrotanum Artemisia, or Southernwood. 



Identification. Lin. Sp., 1185. ; Willd. Sp. PI., 3. p. 1818. ; Ait. Hort. Kew., ed. 2. vol. 5. p. 3. 



Synoiiymes. ^br6tanum mas Bod. Pempt.,21. ; Old Man ; Armoise Aurone, Aurone des Jardins, la 

 Citronelle, la Garderobe, Fr. ; Eberraute, Wermuth, Stabwurtz, Gartenwurtz, Ger. ; Abrotano, 

 Ital.. Span., and Port. 



Derivation. The Greek name for this plant is Abrotonon, which is variously derived, from abrototi, 

 incorruptible; from abroton, unfit for food ; from the soft delicacy (abrotes) of its appearance; or 

 from abros, soft, and tonos, extension, because it is extended,"or grows, in a very soft manner. "Why 

 Linnaeus and others write it Abrotanum, is not known. The name of Old Man, doubtless, has 

 reference to its grey and powdery appearance. It is called Garderobe in French, from its being 

 used to prevent moths foom getting into clothes, dresses, and wardrobes. Eberraute is boar's rue ; 

 and Wermuth, wormwood ; Stabwurtz means staff root ; and Gartenwurtz garden root. 



Engravings. Blackw.,t. 55. ; Woodv., 356. t. 119. ; and our^. 837. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Stem straight. Lower leaves bipinnate, 

 upper ones pinnate, with the segments hair-like. Calyxes 

 pubescent, hemispherical. {Willd. Sp. PL) A native of 

 Italy, Spain, the south of France, Silesia, and Carniola, 

 in Europe ; and of Siberia, Syria, Galatia, Cappadocia, 

 China, and Cochin-China, in Asia. In a wild state, it is 

 seldom found above 3 ft. or 4 ft. high ; and, in mountainous 

 situations, not above half that height, with the branches 

 recumbent. In British gardens it sometimes attains the 

 height of 5 ft. in deep dry soil. Its flowers, which are 

 yellowish, and of little show, appear from August to Oc- 

 tober. This plant was known to the Greeks, by whom 

 it was called abrotonon ; and it is mentioned in Turner as 

 being cultivated in almost every English garden in his time. Gerard recom- 

 mends it as aromatic ; and, according to Allioni, the branches dye wool a 

 deep yellow. In modern times, it is almost confined to the gardens of farmers 

 and cottagers, where it ranks with thyme, rosemary, and mint, for its fragance ; 

 but it is a very useful plant for suburban gardens, as it will bear the smoke 

 and want of free air of cities without the slightest injury. The leaves, when 

 held against a strong light, will be found full of transparent dots ; in which 

 it is probable the odorous matter contained in the plant will be found. 



Varieties. 



* A. A. 2 humile Hort. is a low-growing spreading shrub, found on moun- 



tains in the south of Europe, and retaining its dwarf habit for some 

 years in British gardens. 



• A. A. 3 tobolskidnum Hort., A. tobolskiana Lodd. Cat., was introduced 



from Siberia in 1820, or before, and is a much more vigorous- 

 growing variety, and larger in all its parts, than the species. There 

 are plants in the arboretums at Hackney and Goldworth. This plant 

 has elegant foliage, consisting of finely divided leaves. 



«. 2. A. .S'anto'nica L. The Santonica Artemisia, Tartarian Southern- 

 wood, or Worm-seed. 



IdemMeaUon Lin Bp* 1185 Woodv., 836. j Willd. Sp. PI, 3. p. 1826. ; Ait. Hort. Kew., ed.2. 

 rai 5 



