Artemisia mesatlantica
species of plant
Artemisia mesatlantica, the blue mugwort, is a species of perennial shrub in the Asteraceae family. It is endemic to Morocco and has been classified by the Union International de Conservation de la Nature en Afrique du Nord (International Union of Nature Conservation in North Africa) as a rare and endangered species. Its essential oil has been extensively studied. Artemisia mesatlantica was described in 1928.
Distribution
Artemisia mesatlantica is endemic to Morocco and is found in the High Atlas, Middle Atlas, and Anti-Atlas regions. It is very widespread between Boulmane and Ifrane in the Middle Atlas, and also thrives in the High Atlas, particularly in poor, stony loamy soils. At an altitude of 1,900 m, Artemisia herba-alba is prevalent alongside Artemisia mesatlantica, which continues to grow up to 2,000 m, where it forms a mixed stand with red juniper.
Use in traditional medicine
Artemisia mesatlantica is widely used in traditional medicine, particularly for treating digestive and genital tract disorders, dermatological issues, as well as for alleviating symptoms of the common cold and managing diabetes.
A 2023 study using experimental animal models showed that the aqueous extract of Artemisia mesatlantica (AMAE) significantly reduced blood glucose levels, improved lipid profiles, and increased hepatic glycogen content in diabetic rats. Pretreatment with 600 mg/kg of AMAE for 7 days effectively prevented increases in plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-c following tyloxapol injection.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Artemisia mesatlantica” as species of plant. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the science & nature register because the source frames it as species of plant. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
Stable identifiers, scientific names and standards terminology offer the best bridge between this overview and specialist evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Dec 18, 2025. The linked authority identifier is Q15470952. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1928 and 2023.
Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Artemisia mesatlantica”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Artemisia mesatlantica primary sources, Artemisia mesatlantica archive and Artemisia research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Artemisia mesatlantica”?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Artemisia mesatlantica” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.