Generic name refers to the Greek goddess of the hunt, Artemis, who is said to have benefitted so much from a plant of this family that she gave it her own name.
Specific epithet refers to California.
In Spanish, it is also called Estafiate or Romerito. Even though it has a clean, bitter, aromatic fragrance like sage and has the common name of sage , it is not a true sage in the genus Salvia . Range and Habitat A common member of the coastal sage scrub and chaparral ranging from Marin County in central California to northern Baja California. This species adapts to the long dry season by allowing its leaves to desiccate and fall off. The Spanish Californians regarded this plant as a panacea for all ills.