Artemisia absinthium L.

Strongly aromatic, herbaceous perennial, dying back ± to woody stem bases each year. Stems ascending to erect, densely sericeous, becoming glabrous below, ribbed, up to c. 1 m long, much-branched toward base. Lvs scattered along stems, densely sericeous on upper and lower surface. Lower cauline lvs petiolate, 1-pinnate with leaflets 2–(3)-pinnatisect, up to c. 30 × 20 cm in lower lvs; ultimate segments oblong-ovate, obtuse, 5–10–(18) × (1)–2- 4–(6) mm, with only the central vein evident. Infl. paniculate; infl. lvs similar to cauline lvs but becoming apetiolate and 1-pinnatisect, finally reduced to < 1 cm long and not lobed. Outer involucral bracts herbaceous or with membranous apex, sericeous; inner bracts sparsely hairy, with broad membranous margins and apex. Capitula 2–4–(5) mm diam.; receptacle pilose; florets many, dull yellow, glabrous. Achenes 0.8–1.3 mm long, brown, obovoid, ± terete, smooth; pappus 0.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Jan.–Apr.–(Jun.)