Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Tarragon
Artemisia dracunculus
Aster family (Asteraceae)

Wild Tarragon is easy to spot from many feet down the trail, and the impression one has is of a bushy clump of strong, green, vertical stems with contrasting, lighter colored, tiny spheres dotting the upper third of the plant. This is a common plant in open and along roadsides. The plant's aroma can vary from none to a very pleasant and even strong Tarragon scent. "Intermountain Flora" indicates, " Aromatic and inodorous forms [of Wild Tarragon] are widely scattered in both North America and Eurasia, as are and shortly hairy forms. The leaves are used for flavoring, especially in some parts of Europe." The plant was first collected in Siberia and was named by Linnaeus who also named the in 1753. From Latin we get "Drac" for "dragon" and "unculus" for "little."


©2010 Matt Lavin

Description

with stems typically 2-4' tall, . Leaves primarily (on stem) , some cleft, 1/2 to 3" long, . Numerous flowerheads, . Green with thin translucent margins. All , those on margin and fertile, those in the center sterile, fertile, , or perfect depending on what book you read! an .

Field Marks

Tall, sometimes odiferous plant with numerous stems and numerous tiny flowers.

© Al Schneider

cauline -- Leaves that are on the stem. Not basal.

An entire leaf has smooth edges. Not toothed or lobed.

A perennial plant lives and blooms for many years.

achene -- a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. For example, a rose hip holds a few achenes.

A herb is a plant whose stems die back to the ground in the winter.

ray flowers -- The outer petals of a sunflower or daisy are ray flowers.

Bracts are modified leaves associated with a flower.

Involucre is the name given to the circle or spiral collection of bracts around a flower-cluster.

pistillate -- a flower that lacks stamens is pistillate, or female. One that lacks pistils is said to be staminate, or male.

staminate flowers -- Having only male, pollen producing floral parts.

fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants. It is formed from the ovary after flowering.

hanging or drooping.

genus -- A subdivision of a botanical Family in which all members have a significant number of similar characteristics.

glabrous -- smooth, glossy, having no bristles or hair-like structures. Bald.

meadow -- Large grass and wildflower filled area with few, if any, trees.