Wormwood

Common wormwood or green ginger (Artemisia absinthium L.) was used to repel fleas and moths, and in brewing. It is also used medically as a tonic, stomachic, febrifuge and anthelmintic. It is native to Europe and Siberia and is now widespread in the United States.

Its bitterness also led to its use by wet-nurses[?] for weaning[?] infants from the breast, as in this speech from Romeo and Juliet Act I, Scene 3:

Nurse: ...

And she [Juliet] was wean'd,--I never shall forget it,--

Of all the days of the year, upon that day:

For I had then laid wormwood to my dug,

...

Roman wormwood (Artemesia pontica) was the flavouring ingredient for the alcoholic drink absinthe.

Other species of wormwood

• Sea wormwood (Artemesia maritima)