Changes

{{Inc|

{{Inc|

Southernwood (Artemisia Abrotanum, which see for botanical account) is a European herb, aromatic, much branched, woody-stemmed, rather tender, perennial, 3 to 5 feet tall, with pale green or grayish often variegated leaves, small yellowish flowers and minute seeds. (Fig. 3653.) It is occasionally found in family gardens, where it is grown from seed (or more often from its easily rooted cuttings, which are most readily obtained in early summer) for its pleasant taste and tonic properties, which resemble those of wormwood. It is seldom offered by seedsmen in this country because of its slight importance.

Southernwood (Artemisia Abrotanum, which see for botanical account) is a European herb, aromatic, much branched, woody-stemmed, rather tender, perennial, 3 to 5 feet tall, with pale green or grayish often variegated leaves, small yellowish flowers and minute seeds. (Fig. 3653.) It is occasionally found in family gardens, where it is grown from seed (or more often from its easily rooted cuttings, which are most readily obtained in early summer) for its pleasant taste and tonic properties, which resemble those of wormwood. It is seldom offered by seedsmen in this country because of its slight importance.

}}

}}

{{unreferenced|date=December 2006}}

{{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->

===Propagation===

| color = lightgreen

{{edit-prop}}<!--- Type propagation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->

| name = Southernwood

| image = Artemisia abrotanum0.jpg

| regnum = [[Plant]]ae

| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]

| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]

}}

'''Southernwood''' (''Artemisia abrotanum'') is a [[flowering plant]]. Found in [[Europe]] and [[Great Britain]], the genus ''[[Artemisia (plant)|Artemisia]]'' was named for the Goddess [[Artemis]]. Southernwood is known by many other names including Old Man, Boy's Love, Oldman Wormwood, Lover's Plant, Appleringie, Garderobe, Our Lord's Wood, Maid's Ruin, Garden Sagebrush, European Sage, Lad's Love, Southern Wormwood, and Lemon Plant.

===Pests and diseases===

{{edit-pests}}<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line -->

The plant is a member of the [[genus]] ''Artemisia'', along with mugwort and [[Wormwood]] (an ingredient in the popular and infamous liquor [[absinthe]], once widely banned, but available again in Europe and as of mid-2007 in the United States as well). Southernwood has a strong [[camphor]]-like odour and was historically used as an air freshener or strewing herb.

<!--  This section should be renamed Cultivars if it appears on a page for a species (rather than genus), or perhaps Varieties if there is a mix of cultivars, species, hybrids, etc    -->

It forms a small bushy [[shrub]], which is widely cultivated by gardeners. The grey-green leaves are small, narrow and feathery. The small flowers are yellow. It can easily be propagated by [[cutting (plant)|cuttings]], or by division of the roots.

{{photo-sources}}<!-- remove this line if there are already 3 or more photos in the gallery  -->

Southernwood encourages [[menstruation]] (Culpeper 1653), is [[antiseptic]] and kills [[intestinal worms]]. It was used to treat [[liver]], [[spleen]] and [[stomach]] problems. It is seldom used medicinally today, except in [[Germany]], where [[poultice]]s are placed on wounds, splinters and skin conditions and it is employed occasionally to treat [[frostbite]]. Its constituents have been shown to stimulate the [[gallbladder]] and [[bile]], which improves digestion and liver functions. The leaves are mixed with other herbs in aromatic baths and is said to counter sleepiness. An infusion of the leaves is said to work as a natural insect repellent when applied to the skin or if used as a hair rinse is said to combat [[dandruff]].  

Image:Upload.png| photo 2

Image:Upload.png| photo 3

===Historical===

==References==

The Romans believed it protected men from [[impotence]]. It is also said that young men in areas like [[Spain]] and [[Italy]] rubbed fresh southernwood leaves (which were [[lemon]]-scented) on their faces to promote the growth of a beard.  

*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->

<!--- xxxxx  *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432  -->

A yellow dye can be extracted from the branches of the plant, for use with [[wool]]. Its dried leaves are used to keep [[moth]]s away from wardrobes. Burned as an incense, southernwood guards against trouble of all kinds, and the smoke drives away [[snake]]s (Culpeper 1653). The volatile oil in the leaves is responsible for the strong, sharp, scent which repels moths and other insects. It was customary to lay sprays of the herb amongst clothes, or hang them in closets, and this is the origin of southernwood's [[French language|French]] name, garderobe ("clothes-preserver"). Judges carried [[Posy|posies]] of southernwood and [[rue]] to protect themselves from prisoner's contagious diseases, and some church-goers relied on the herb's sharp scent to keep them awake during long sermons.

[[Category:Categorize]]

 

 

 

*[http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Arte_abr.html Southernwood Spice Page]

*[http://www.smallflower.com/search/abrotanum Purchase Abrotanum (Southernwood)]

[[Category:Artemisia]]

<!--  in order to add all the proper categories, go to http://www.plants.am/wiki/Plant_Categories and copy/paste the contents of the page here, and then follow the easy instructions!    -->