Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Fl. Jap. 309. 1784; Li, Fl. Taiwan 4: 787, pl. 1199. 1978. Ling, Fl. Reipubl. Popul. Sin. 76(2): 216, pl. 30(1-9). 1991; Koyama, Fl. Jap. 3(b): 81. 1995.
茵陳蒿
Subshrubs, 40-120 cm or more tall, strongly aromatic, gray or yellowish sericeous pubescent, or sometimes glabrescent. Basal leaves rosulate, petiole of basal or lowermost leaves 0.3-0.7 cm long, yellowish or gray pubescent, glabrescent, blade ovate or ovate-elliptic, 2-4(-5)×1.5-3.5 cm, 2(-3)-pinnatisect, segments 2 or 3 (or 4) pairs, ultimate lobes narrowly linear or linear-lanceolate, 5-10×0.5-1.5(-2) cm; uppermost leaves and leafy bracts 5- or 3-sect. Heads ovoid or subglobose, numerous, 1-1.5(-2) mm in diam., inflorescences panicles. Outer florets 6-10. Central florets 3-7. Achenes oblong or oblong-ovoid. Fl. and fr. Jul-Oct. Chromosome number, 2n = 36 (Peng & Hsu, 1978).
TAIPEI: Shihmen, Hu s. n. 1986; Keelungyu, Wang s. n. 1991. ILAN: Nanhutashan, Liou 580. TAOYUAN: Tachi, Peng 13493. HSINCHU: Lienhuassu, Yang 4904; Chutung, Leu 535. TAICHUNG: Wuling, Peng 12084; Hoping, Shen 434. NANTOU: Hsinyi, Leu 1153; Chingjing Farm, Peng 6092. CHIAYI: Tatachia, Peng 8948. PENGHU: Fengkuei, Chen 705; Tahsi, Chen 114. PINGTUNG: Wutai, Peng 10189; Manchou, Lin 2676. TAITUNG: Haituan, Peng 11855. HUALIEN: Yenhai, Peng 13057; Tienhsiang, Peng 11326.
China, Korea, Japan, the Ryukyus and the Philippines. Taiwan, widely distributed: seasides, humid slopes, hills, terraces, roadsides, and river banks.
Artemisia capillaris contains chlorogenic acid and capillarin. It has been used as an antiphlogistic drug and is well known for reducing SCGP of hepatitis, promoting urine and curing hepatitis and cholecystitis.
