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Tarragon
Estragon
Appears in
Published 2010
Scientific name: Artemisia dracunculus
Available forms: Fresh and dried
Tarragon, also called dragon’s wort, is native to western and northern Asia. Growing from 47 to 59 inches (1.2 to 1.5 meters) tall, the tarragon plant has slender, branched stems with broad glossy leaves measuring from 0.7 to 3 inches (1.8 to 7.6 mm) in length. Tarragon flowers grow in clusters of up to 40 yellow or yellow-green florets.
In the Middle Ages, tarragon was called tragonia or tarchon. These words are believed to be on loan from Arabic. Today, the Arabic word for tarragon is at-tarkhun. This origin is not clear, but may have come from the Old Greek drakon, which means “dragon” or “snake.” This may have come from the belief that tarragon could not only ward off dragons and serpents, but that it could actually heal snake bites.