Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.
Annotated by Ian Troester-Solbrig, 2013. Sources: FPNW.

Idaho: Bannock County: Lower City Creek Area. Elev. 4600 ft.
42° 51.174' N, 112° 26.981' W
Uncertainty: 17 meters. Coordinate Source: GPS.
Mostly sunny, moderately vegetated opening to primary City Creek valley. Growing in lightly disturbed soil about 5 meters from trail and 15 meters from creek with balsamroot, hounds tongue, snowberry, roses, russian olive, and other deciduous shrubs and trees. Traditionally A. ludoviciana was used as a spiritual purifier, a medicine to treat rheumatism, dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), and stomach pains, and as a deodorant. The plant contains a number of compounds which are of medicinal significance in humans; thujone, a potentially deadly convulsant (it causes seizures and neuromuscular spasticity by inhibiting gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors); lactone glycosides, santonin, and artemesin which are all potentially useful treatments for helmintic parasites (worms). A. ludoviciana also has antibacterial properties. At concentrations of 4mg/ml and above, dried A. ludoviciana has been shown to effectively inhibit the adhesion, growth, and enterotoxin production of cholera bacteria and similar organisms. Phenology: Flowers.

Ian Troester-Solbrig 2, Jun 3, 2013
IDS, Barcode: IDS0067635