Artemisia pygmaea Gray
Family: Asteraceae
Description: This taxon is characterized by linear to
lanceolate outer involucral bracts which are nearly glabrous to
sparsely villous; leaves green, pinnatifid with 3-11 lobes; habit
a low cushion plant. It flowers Aug.-Sept.
Distribution: Eastern Nevada, Central and W. Utah, N. Arizona
and N.W. New Mexico. Navajo Heritage Records from N.M.: 1. E.
of Gallup, Iyanbito, McKinley Co. 2. Fort Wingate Army Depot,
Mckinley Co.
Plants Seen or Cited: (UNM) New Mexico; McKinley Co.; Fort Wingate Army
Depot., Hevron 2261; Ft. Wingate Army Depot, Sivinski and Lightfoot 2710.
Habitat: Dry, barren soils often on white clay or shale, tolerant
of alkalai.
Discussion: Ward (1953) listed this taxon as uncommon but locally
abundant in Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. It is a peripheral in New Mexico and should not be on
the rare list.
Important Literature:
Cronquist, A. 1994. Intermountain Flora. Vol. 5. pg.
164. New York Botanical Garden.
Ward, G.H. 1953. Artemisia, Section Seriphidium in North America: A
cytotaxonomic study. Contr. Dudley Herbarium 4:155-205.
Information Compiled By: Tim Lowrey, 1998
