ANNUAL WORMWOOD, Artemisia annua L. 1, upper leaves and flowers; 2, lower leaves; 3, flowers. Annual, with taproot, reproducing by seed only. Stem smooth, erect, without hairs, slender, branched in upper portion, 1 to 4 feet (0.3 to 1.2 m) tall. Leaves on lower part of stem alternate, sweet-scented, divided into 3 sharply toothed lobes. Upper leaves much smaller. Flower heads drooping, greenish, about 3/16 inch (4.5 mm) in diameter, composed of disk flowers without conspicuous petals, in loose panicles. Seeds about 1/16 inch (1.5 mm) long, angled, oval, light yellow. Found in sandy soils, especially roadsides, wasteland, and fallow fields. Not a troublesome weed. A number of similar species are found in the area.