Distributed in China, North China, Northwest China, East China, Sichuan; also found in other parts of Asia, Europe, northern Africa and North America (Figure 123).

Biological and ecological characteristics

Artemisia annua is a medium-dry herb. It is widely distributed, and grows in high mountains up to about 2800 meters above sea level and in grasslands below 1000 meters. Most of them are scattered on mountain slopes, ravines, abandoned land, fields, roadsides and courtyards and other places. In Xinjiang, there are Artemisia annua growing everywhere in the low hills on the north slope of Tianshan Mountain, alluvial flood plains and riversides. Usually suitable for growth in loamy and sandy loamy soil; in the loose, water retention and fertilizer capacity of neutral soil growth is better.

Artemisia annua has poor drought resistance, early spring seed shade requires a certain degree of soil moisture, too dry topsoil in the seedling period will lead to the death of seedlings. Also has the characteristics of light and temperature, in full sunlight, warmer temperatures under the conditions of good growth. And in the low-temperature shade of the habitat in poor growth. Artemisia spp. is not tolerant of salinity and flooding, and has difficulty surviving on soils with a high water table, standing water on the surface, and poor permeability and a high degree of salinity.

Artemisia spp. is an annual herb with poor regenerative ability, and poor stability and competitive ability in plant communities. In the natural grassland participation is low, often scattered in mountain grassland, mountain meadow grassland and part of the mountain meadow community, with common and occasional species appear, rarely into a piece; do not become the dominant species of plants.

In Xinjiang's plains desert and desert grassland, spring snowmelt and rainfall more and moisture conditions in the local lowland, also often appear Artemisia annua. But in the plains oasis of agricultural growth more, is a common weed, was scattered scattered distribution, only in local areas have a small area of patchy distribution.

Sowers Artemisia is a seed reproduction of plants, spring sprouting early, fast growth and development, branching, leaf blade dense. But the life cycle is short. In the plains generally sprouted in early April, flowering in early and mid-June, and seed maturity in July.