Artemisia ludoviciana (White Sage)

Plant Info

Also known as:	White Sagebrush, Prairie Sage, Western Mugwort
Genus:	Artemisia
Family:	Asteraceae (Aster)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	sun; dry, open prairies, along roads
Bloom season:	summer, fall
Plant height:	1 to 3 feet
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Battle Creek Regional Park Long Lake Regional Park Rice Creek Trail Corridor

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Detailed Information

Flower:

Flowers are inconspicuous, greenish white to yellowish green, in compact clusters at the leaf joints, or branched in loose spike-like racemes up to 20 inches long.

Leaves:

Leaves are silvery and may be variable in shape but are generally elliptical, to 5 inches long and 1 inch wide, with rounded or pointed tips and no leaf stem. The lower leaves may be lobed at the tips but leaves otherwise have smooth edges. They are covered in short hairs, and are progressively smaller as they ascend the main stem. Attachment is alternate.

Fruit:

A small dry brown seed without silk, but small enough to be carried away by the wind.

Notes:

The leaves are aromatic when crushed.

More photos

• a small group of White Sage
• more flowers

Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN August 2006 and August-September 2007

Comments

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