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''This article is about the [[herb]]; for the [[Freedom Call]] CD see [[Taragon]].''
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Tarragon
| image = Estragon2_1511.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asterales]]
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
| genus = ''[[Artemisia (plant)|Artemisia]]''
| species = '''''A. dracunculus'''''
| binomial = ''Artemisia dracunculus''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
'''Tarragon''' or '''dragon's-wort''' (''Artemisia dracunculus'' L.) is a [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[herb]] in the family [[Asteraceae]] related to [[Artemisia (plant)|wormwood]]. Corresponding to its species name, a common term for the plant is "dragon herb." It is native to a wide area of the [[Northern Hemisphere]] from easternmost [[Europe]] across central and eastern [[Asia]] to western [[North America]], and south to northern [[India]] and [[Mexico]]. The North American populations may however be [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalised]] from early human introduction.
[[Image:Estragon_1511.jpg|thumb|left|Close-up of the foliage]]
Tarragon grows to 20-150 cm tall, with slender, branched stems. The [[leaf|leaves]] are lanceolate, 2-8 cm long and 2-10 mm broad, glossy green, with an entire margin. The [[flower]]s are produced in small [[inflorescence|capitulae]] 2-4 mm diameter, each capitulum containing up to 40 yellow or greenish-yellow florets.
===Cultivation and uses===
Tarragon has an aromatic property reminiscent of [[anise]], due to the presence of [[estragole]]. French tarragon is the variety generally considered best for the kitchen, but cannot be grown from seed. Russian tarragon ''(A. dracunculoides'' L.) can be grown from seed but is much weaker in flavour.
However, Russian tarragon is a far more hardy and vigorous plant, spreading at the roots and growing over a meter tall. This tarragon actually prefers poor [[soil]]s and happily tolerates drought and neglect. It is not as strongly aromatic and flavoursome as its French cousin, but it produces many more leaves from early spring onwards that are mild and good in salads and cooked food. The young stems in early spring can be cooked as a tasty [[asparagus]] substitute. Grow indoors from seed and plant out in the summer. Spreading plant can be divided easily.
Tarragon is one of the four ''[[fines herbes]]'' of French cooking, and particularly suitable for chicken, fish and egg dishes. Tarragon is one of the main components of [[Bearnaise sauce]].
Tarragon is used to flavor a popular carbonated soft drink in the country of [[Armenia (country)|Armenia]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and, by extension, [[Russia]]. The drink - named [[Tarhun|Tarkhun]] [tar-HOON](թարխուն)(Тархун), which is the Armenian and Russian word for tarragon - is made out of sugary tarragon concentrate and colored bright green.
"I believe that if ever I had to practice cannibalism, I might manage if there were enough tarragon around." --[[James Beard]]1800
== References ==
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?4282 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Artemisia dracunculus'']
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ARDR4 NRCS: USDA Plants Profile: ''Artemisia dracunculus'']
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=200023201 Flora of Pakistan: ''Artemisia dracunculus'']
{{wiktionary|tarragon}}
{{Herbs & spices}}
[[Category:Artemisia]]
[[Category:Herbs]]
[[Category:Flora of Canada]]
{{asteraceae-stub}}
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Tarragon
| image = Estragon2_1511.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asterales]]
| familia = [[Asteraceae]]
| genus = ''[[Artemisia (plant)|Artemisia]]''
| species = '''''A. dracunculus'''''
| binomial = ''Artemisia dracunculus''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
'''Tarragon''' or '''dragon's-wort''' (''Artemisia dracunculus'' L.) is a [[perennial plant|perennial]] [[herb]] in the family [[Asteraceae]] related to [[Artemisia (plant)|wormwood]]. Corresponding to its species name, a common term for the plant is "dragon herb." It is native to a wide area of the [[Northern Hemisphere]] from easternmost [[Europe]] across central and eastern [[Asia]] to western [[North America]], and south to northern [[India]] and [[Mexico]]. The North American populations may however be [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalised]] from early human introduction.
[[Image:Estragon_1511.jpg|thumb|left|Close-up of the foliage]]
Tarragon grows to 20-150 cm tall, with slender, branched stems. The [[leaf|leaves]] are lanceolate, 2-8 cm long and 2-10 mm broad, glossy green, with an entire margin. The [[flower]]s are produced in small [[inflorescence|capitulae]] 2-4 mm diameter, each capitulum containing up to 40 yellow or greenish-yellow florets.
===Cultivation and uses===
Tarragon has an aromatic property reminiscent of [[anise]], due to the presence of [[estragole]]. French tarragon is the variety generally considered best for the kitchen, but cannot be grown from seed. Russian tarragon ''(A. dracunculoides'' L.) can be grown from seed but is much weaker in flavour.
However, Russian tarragon is a far more hardy and vigorous plant, spreading at the roots and growing over a meter tall. This tarragon actually prefers poor [[soil]]s and happily tolerates drought and neglect. It is not as strongly aromatic and flavoursome as its French cousin, but it produces many more leaves from early spring onwards that are mild and good in salads and cooked food. The young stems in early spring can be cooked as a tasty [[asparagus]] substitute. Grow indoors from seed and plant out in the summer. Spreading plant can be divided easily.
Tarragon is one of the four ''[[fines herbes]]'' of French cooking, and particularly suitable for chicken, fish and egg dishes. Tarragon is one of the main components of [[Bearnaise sauce]].
Tarragon is used to flavor a popular carbonated soft drink in the country of [[Armenia (country)|Armenia]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and, by extension, [[Russia]]. The drink - named [[Tarhun|Tarkhun]] [tar-HOON](թարխուն)(Тархун), which is the Armenian and Russian word for tarragon - is made out of sugary tarragon concentrate and colored bright green.
"I believe that if ever I had to practice cannibalism, I might manage if there were enough tarragon around." --[[James Beard]]1800
== References ==
*[http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?4282 Germplasm Resources Information Network: ''Artemisia dracunculus'']
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ARDR4 NRCS: USDA Plants Profile: ''Artemisia dracunculus'']
*[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=200023201 Flora of Pakistan: ''Artemisia dracunculus'']
{{wiktionary|tarragon}}
{{Herbs & spices}}
[[Category:Artemisia]]
[[Category:Herbs]]
[[Category:Flora of Canada]]
{{asteraceae-stub}}
