What does wormwood, a plant used against bedbugs, look like? - briefly
«Artemisia absinthium» is a tall, erect herb with silvery‑gray, deeply divided leaves covered in fine white hairs; its stems branch sparsely and bear small, yellowish‑green flower heads. The plant typically reaches 1–1.5 m in height and emits a strong, bitter aroma.
What does wormwood, a plant used against bedbugs, look like? - in detail
Wormwood is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Artemisia. Mature specimens reach 60–150 cm in height, with an erect, branched stem that is green‑gray and covered by fine, silvery hairs. The stem surface is often slightly rough to the touch, reflecting the dense indumentum.
Leaves are alternate, deeply divided, and pinnatifid. Each leaf segment measures 1–3 cm, creating a feather‑like appearance. The leaf surface is dark green on the upper side and densely covered with white‑gray tomentum, giving a muted, silvery sheen. Margins are irregularly serrated, and the leaf base tapers sharply toward the petiole.
Inflorescences develop in late summer as loose, terminal panicles. Flowers are small, yellow‑green, and lack conspicuous petals; each flower consists of five narrow, tubular florets surrounded by bracts. The flowering heads are not compact, allowing easy identification among other Artemisia species.
The root system is a deep taproot, branching into fine lateral roots. Roots are thick, brownish, and emit a strong, bitter odor characteristic of the plant’s essential oils. The foliage releases a distinctive, aromatic scent described as sharp, camphoraceous, and slightly sweet, which contributes to its reputation as a natural repellent for bedbugs.
Key visual identifiers:
- Height: 60–150 cm, erect, branched stems.
- Stem: green‑gray, covered with fine silvery hairs.
- Leaves: alternate, deeply pinnatifid, silvery‑tomentose underside, serrated margins.
- Flowers: terminal panicles, small yellow‑green florets, lack prominent petals.
- Roots: thick taproot, brownish, aromatic.
These morphological traits enable reliable field recognition of the species employed in pest‑control applications against Cimex lectularius.