​Bigelow’s Sagebrush, Silver Sagebrush, Silvery Wormwood,Artemisia bigelovii,Sunflower Family (Asteraceae)

Found in sandy, rocky areas, piñon-juniper woodlands
Seen in October at Ghost Ranch

The last blog for this season is one of the several species of sagebrush that grow in our area.  They all tend to grow in colonies, covered in silvery hairs and have tiny, inconspicuous yellow flower heads crowded along the stem. Bigelow’s Sagebrush looks like a miniature Big Sagebrush but it only grows one to two feet wide and high with a rounded compact shape, compared to Big Sagebrush which can spread several feet high and wide. The silvery-green leaves are up to one inch long and have three teeth or a point at the tip. They are pleasantly aromatic when crushed. It is unique from other sagebrush by sometimes having a few ray flowers in its flower heads. Specific uses of Bigelow’s Sagebrush by Native Americans are unknown but the closely related Big Sagebrush was used by many tribes to treat colds, coughs, pneumonia, rheumatism, fevers and diarrhea. It was commonly burned as a smudge to cleanse the air, for ritual purification, and to promote good health. It was also an important source of soap/disinfectant, and food (seeds), and was used to start a fire and for weaving mats and clothing. Source. 

If you are trying to identify a different flower then you can check what other flowers bloom this month. If you cannot identify a flower from the website, send a photo and where you took it to contact@rockymountainsflora.com. Read online for tips.