Artemisia borealis
Reise Russ. Reich. 3: 755. 1776.
Perennials, (6–)8–20(–40) cm (cespitose), mildly aromatic; taprooted, caudices branched. Stems (1–)2–5, gray-green, tomentose. Leaves persistent, basal rosettes persistent, gray-green to white; blades ovate, 2–4 × 0.5–1 cm, 2–3-pinnately or -ternately lobed, lobes linear to narrowly oblong, apices acute, faces moderately to densely sericeous. Heads (proximal sessile, distal pedunculate) in (leafy) spiciform arrays 4–9(–12) × (0.5–)1–5 cm. Involucres hemispheric, 3–4 × 3.5–4 mm. Phyllaries (obscurely scarious) densely tomentose-villous. Florets: pistillate 8–10; functionally staminate 15–30; corollas (or lobes) yellow-orange or deep red, 2.2–3.5. Cypselae oblong-lanceoloid, somewhat compressed, 0.4–1 mm, faintly nerved, glabrous.
Distribution
Alta., B.C., N.W.T., Nunavut, Sask., Yukon, Alaska, Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Utah, Wash., Wyo., especially at high elevations and northern latitudes, Eurasia.
Discussion
Subspecies 2 (2 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Key
| 1 | Herbage villoso-tomentose, glabrate, or glabrous; corollas (at least lobes) usually yellow-orange, 2.2–3 mm; mountains, w North America | Artemisia borealis subsp. borealis |
| 1 | Herbage white-hoary; corollas (at least lobes) deep red, 3–3.5 mm; w arctic North America | Artemisia borealis subsp. richardsoniana |