Scientific Name
Artemisia spp.
Common Name
Wormwood, mugwort, absinth

TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

Characteristics

Family
Asteraceae
Plant Description
Fragrant, herbaceous perennial; leaves silvery-green, alternate, finely divided into blunt, narrow segments with silvery hairs on both sides; flowers small, drooping, greenish yellow.
Origin
Europe
Distribution
Coastal Plain.
Where Found
Weedy in disturbed areas, naturalized in waste places in northern US; landscape as cultivated ornamentals.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
All parts.
Symptoms
In the form of absinthe, an outlawed beverage, it can cause forgetfulness, delirium, convulsions, and brain damage.
Toxic Principle
A monoterpene thujone.
Severity
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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