Weed Information: Artemisia cana (sagebrush, silver)
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Artemisia cana (sagebrush, silver)

Family: Asteraceae

Description

A native shrub of western rangelands which is utilized by sheep and wildlife but not by cattle. The leaves are gray-blue and simple. Fire does not kill this species as it re-sprouts from the base. The specific epithet `cana` is from the same root as the botanical tem `canescent` meaning `densely white hairy`.

Characteristics

Flower Color
  • Yellow
  • Yellow-green
  • Green
Inflorescence Type (How the flowers are arranged on the plant)
  • Axillary racemes
  • Head
  • Terminal raceme
Number of Petals
  • 0 (no petals)
  • 5 petals
Petal Separation
  • United > 75% of length
Petal Tip
  • Pointed
Flower Symmetry
  • Flowers regular
Flower Length (Head length in the Asteraceae)
  • 2 mm (.08 inch)
  • 3 mm (.12 inch)
  • 4 mm (.16 inch)
  • 5 mm (.20 inch)
  • 6 mm (.24 inch)
Flower Width (Head width in the Asteraceae)
  • 2 mm (.08 inch)
  • 3 mm (.12 inch)
  • 4 mm (.16 inch)
  • 5 mm (.20 inch)
  • 6 mm (.24 inch)
Number of Sepals
  • sepals lacking
  • 5 sepals
  • 6 sepals
  • 7 sepals
  • 8 sepals
  • 9 sepals
  • 10 sepals
  • more than 10 sepals
Sepal Separation
  • Completely free to base
Sepal Tip
  • Pointed
  • Rounded
Flower Sex
  • Bisexual (perfect)
Number of Styles
  • 1 style
Number of Stamens
  • 5 stamens
Stamens Attached to the Petals
  • Stamens attached to the petals
Stamens Connate (united)
  • Anthers united, syngynoecious

Carpel Separation
  • Carpels united (or one)
Number of Carpels
  • 1 carpel
Ovary Position
  • Inferior (epigynous)
Fruit Type
  • Achene
Fruit Length at Maturity
  • 1 mm (.04 inch) or less
  • 2 mm (.08 inch)
Fruit Width at Maturity
  • 1 mm (.04 inch) or less
  • 2 mm (.08 inch)
Burs
  • Fruit or seed NOT bur-like

Leaf Arrangement
  • Alternate
Leaf Type
  • Simple (including lobed leaves)
Stipules
  • Lacking
Tendrils
  • Tendrils absent
Venation
  • Parallel
Petiole (leaf stem) Blade Ratio
  • Petiole absent (leaf sessile)
Leaf Length (blade PLUS petiole)
  • 2 - 4 cm (.80 - 1.60 inches)
  • 4 - 10 cm (1.60 - 4.0 inches)
Leaf Width
  • 1 - 5 mm (.04 - .20 inch)
Leaf Shape (simple leaves only)
  • Linear or filiform
Leaf or Leaflet Margin
  • Crenate
  • Entire
  • Lobed
Leaf or Leaflet Blade Base
  • Acuminate (attenuate)
Leaf or Leaflet Tip
  • Acute
  • Tridentate
Leaf or Leaflet Blade Surface
  • Canescent
  • Tomentose
Succulence
  • Not succulent

Milky Juice
  • Juice NOT milky (watery)
Woodiness
  • Woody
Spines or Thorns
  • Spines or Thorns ABSENT
Aromatic (vegetative structures)
  • Aromatic
Life Cycle
  • Perennial
Growth Habit (while flowering)
  • Erect, columnar (narrow)
  • Erect, spherical (bushy)
Plant Height at Maturity
  • 2 - 4 dm (8.0 - 16.0 inches)
  • 4 - 6 dm (1.3 - 2.0 feet)
  • 6 - 8 dm (2.0 - 2.6 feet)
  • 8 - 10 dm (2.6 - 3.3 feet)
Wind Dissemination
  • Not wind disseminated
Moisture Regime
  • Mesic
  • Arid
Chlorophyll
  • Present

Stem Cross Section
  • Round
Flowering Stem Leaves
  • Stem uniformly leafy
Main Stem Branches
  • Main stem branched

Root or Vegetative Propagule
  • Tap Root

Canadian Province or Territory
  • British Columbia
  • Alberta
  • Manitoba
  • Saskatchewan
US State
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Idaho
  • Minnesota
  • Montana
  • North Dakota
  • New Mexico
  • Nevada
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • South Dakota
  • Utah
  • Washington
  • Wyoming
  • Nebraska

  • Weeds and Poisonous Plants of Wyoming and Utah 1987 (ISBN 0-941570-06-1) See page: 148
  • Weeds of Nebraska and the Great Plains, 1994 (ISBN 0939870-00-4) See page: 83
  • Weeds of the West, 1992 (ISBN 0941570-13-4) See page: 62
  • Weeds of the West, 2000 (ISBN 0941570-13-4) See page: 66
  • Listed as a `Weed` by the Biota of North America Program, 2008 X
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