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The Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) belongs to Asteraceae (the Aster family). It is a perennial herb that is believed to be native to southern Europe and Siberia. It was introduced to Japan in 1915. It grows to a height of 60 to 100 cm. The plant resembles "mugwort" overall, but its leaves are linear-lanceolate. It may produce small, greenish-white flower heads in summer. However, since it rarely produces seeds, it spreads via rhizomes. The above-ground parts wither in winter. It is a herb with a sweet aroma and a slightly pungent bitterness, and is a traditional spice in France. It is called "estragon" in French and "Hosoba-ao-yomogi" (narrow-leaved mugwort) in Japanese.
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