Taming the giant: towards a global sectional taxonomy for the big genus Artemisia

Artemisia is a big genus of significant medicinal, ecological, and economic importance. However, a global sectional taxonomy with complete morphological and nomenclatural details is still lacking despite decades of research.

Based on phylogenomic data (202 nuclear low copy genes plus two ribosomal DNA markers) covering 78% of accepted Artemisia species and morphological evidence (20 characters), we propose a global sectional taxonomy for the genus with morphological and nomenclatural details. This taxonomy accommodates 502 of the 505 accepted species (three remain unplaced owing to insufficient evidence) and recognizes 24 sections in eight subgenera, for which morphological descriptions, diagnostic keys, and nomenclatural acts are provided. Sixteen sections are newly established, and five are re-circumscribed.

This comprehensive sectional taxonomy establishes a robust framework for the infrageneric classification of Artemisia. It resolves long‑standing taxonomic uncertainties and provides a foundation for diverse research-from understanding the evolution and ecology of the genus to guiding the sustainable use of its medicinally and ecologically important species. Moreover, it presents a methodological case for addressing taxonomic complexity in other big plant genera.