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CommentsBeach Wormwood is the primary host of a rare parasitic plant, Orobanche fasciculata (Clustered Broomrape). The pale flowering stalk of this parasitic plant can be observed near Beach Wormwood during late spring or summer. A similar species, Orobanche ludoviciana (Prairie Broomrape), is also parasitic on Beach Wormwood, but this latter species is parasitic on a variety of other species in the Asteraceae. Among the several Artemisia spp. in Illinois, Beach Wormwood can be identified by the toothless linear lobes (less than 3 mm. across) of its deeply divided leaves. It is also unusual in having perfect florets with sterile ovaries, which are normally fertile in other Artemisia spp. Another common name of Artemisia campestris caudata is Field Sagewort. A scientific synonym of this species is Artemisia caudata.