Norwegian Mugwort

Description:

Var.scotica is smaller than the plants found in Norway and the Urals. The deeply toothed leaves are hairy on both the upper and lower surfaces and not so divided as the Norway and ural plants.The flowering stems up to six centimetres high are also hairy and bear a few silky leaves.The hairy nodding rosettes are only a few centimetres across and are yellowish in color. It has thick roots that anchor it into the stony ground.

Habitat:

Cul Mor.The plants grow on sparsely vegetated gravelly soil on exposed ridges where there is little protection from the wind.

Notes:

This plant was found on Col Mor as recently as 1950 Norwegian Mugwort Artemisia norvegica is found in Norway, the Northern Ural Mountains and Scotland. The Scottish plants are sufficiently distinct to have been named var. scotica.The Scotish populations are only found on three mountain tops: Cul Mor, Seana Bhraigh and Carn Ban.The plants grow on sparsely vegetated gravelly soil on exposed ridges where there is little protection from the wind. In my last photo. Coll Mor. is taken from where I parked my car.To the cross it is approx.11km/6.75 miles.Good path to start with then a wetter path rising up the first section leading to a pathless section with stony boulders near the summit.The time for me (botanist time) was 11hours round trip.A fair slog but worth every step.