Artemisia pycnocephala D.C.
Coastal sagewort

Family:  Asteraceae

Habit:  Shrub, forming mounds 3 to 7 dm., white-gray tomentose throughout.

Distribution:  Found in rocky or sandy soils on coastal strands in the central and north coast of California to Oregon.

Seed unit:  Achene.

Seed:  1.5 mm., glabrous.

Embryo:  Linear with well developed cotyledons and no endosperm.

Purity instructions:  Pure seed definition:
AOSA: PSU# 50 - Intact achene, with or without one or more of the following structures: beak, bristle, hairs, pappus, wing, or firmly attached floral remnants, provided a true seed with some degree of embryo development can be detected (either by slight pressure or by examination over light).
Piece of broken achene larger than one-half of the original size, unless no seed is present. Seed, with or without pericarp/seed coat; if broken, larger than one-half the original size.
ISTA: PSD#1 - Achene with or without pappus, unless it is obvious that no seed is present.

Average pure seed units per gram:  6,153 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 17 samples received for testing from 1993 to 2002). 

Range of percent pure seed:  3% to 17%

Range of percent inert:  82% to 96%

Description of inert:  Plant material, insects, stone, dirt.

Planting instructions:  400 seeds, TB, 14 days @ 20°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill  recommended.