Related Species.—A. tridentata, Nutt.; Sage brush. Hab. U. S., from Rocky Mountains westward. The wild sage is deserving of notice. In the western states it is reputed by physicians to be a good emmenagogue, and is in common use by the people as a remedy for putrid angina, arthritic rheumatism, and diphtheria. The oil, mixed with olive-oil to form a liniment, is largely employed by them in erysipelas, contusions, sprains, and swellings (Ed. E. M. J., 1877, p. 237). According to Dr. Roberts (E. M. J., 1877, p. 415) the oil is a valued remedy in flatulent colic, and the leaves used as a fomentation for abscesses promote the rapid formation of pus and impart such a healthy tone to the parts that the disease is quickly brought to a termination with the least possible destruction of tissue. An infusion is used by the Indians for colds, headache, and to expel intestinal parasites (Palmer). A. trifida, Nuttall, and A. arbuscula are dwarf species having like properties.
A. filifolia, Torrey.—Called Southern wood in its habitat, U. S. west of Rocky Mountains. Used by the Indians for tumefactions and bruises. Contains an essential oil valuable for liniments (Palmer).
A. Ludoviciana, Nuttall; Western mugwort.—N. W. U. S., from Great Lakes to Pacific Ocean and southward. The fruit of this and the next species used by the Indians as an article of food. This species in infusion is supposed to promote the growth of the hair, and is employed by the Pah Utes to facilitate labor, and as a remedy for epistaxis (Maisch, Amer. Jour. Pharm., Vol. LII, p. 69).
A. Dracunculoides, Pursh.—Illinois to Pacific coast northward to British dominions, and southward to Arizona and Arkansas. Fruit used as food by the Indians. The bruised plants act as a topical irritant, and an infusion of them produces diaphoresis.
A. Drancunculus, Linné; Tarragon.—Cultivated in southern Europe, Tartary, and Siberia. A bitterish, aromatic, anise-odorous plant, the volatile oil of which is chiefly anethol (C10H12O).
A. Maratima var. Stechmanniana, Besser; Wormseed.—Europe and Asia. In saline soils, along seacoasts and in salty marshes. Source of Santonin (Pharmacographia).
A. Abrotanum, Linné; Southern wood; Old man.—Hab. southern Europe and western Asia. Cultivated in gardens in North America. An aromatic bitter, with the odor of lemons, and is said to contain abrotine, a crystallizable alkaloid (Craveri).
A. vulgaris, Linné; Mugwort.—Europe, northern Asia and northern Africa. Naturalized and cultivated in the United States. The root, which contains volatile oil, tannin, and an acrid resin, is used for medicinal purposes in Europe. Emmenagogue and German remedy for hysteria and epilepsy.
A. Pontica, Linné; Roman wormwood.—Hab. central Asia and southern Europe. Used as a substitute for common wormwood, though not esteemed so valuable.
A. frigida, Willdenow; Sierra salvia, Mountain sage.—Colorado. Probably contains some absinthin (F. A. Weiss, 1890).
A. Chinensis. A. Indica. Source of Chinese Moxa.
A. Abyssinica, Olivier; Tshuking, Zerechtit.—Abyssinia. The bitterish, aromatic flowers contain a bitter principle, tannin, and essential oil (Dragendorff).