- Anemone nemorosa
Taxobox
name = "Anemone nemorosa"
status = LC
image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Anemone nemorosa" in flower
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Magnoliopsida
ordo =Ranunculales
familia =Ranunculaceae
genus = "Anemone "
species = "A. nemorosa"
binomial = "Anemone nemorosa"
binomial_authority = L."Anemone nemorosa" is an early-spring
flowering plant in the genus "Anemone " in the family Ranunculaceae. Common names include (European*)wood anemone , windflower, (European*) thimbleweed and smell fox, an allusion to the musky smell of the leaves. It is aperennial herbaceous plant, growing in early spring from 5 to 15 cm tall.(*American wood anemone is "
Anemone quinquefolia ", a different species in the same genus. American thimbleweed, "Rudbeckia laciniata ", is an entirely unrelated plant.)Growth
The plants start blooming soon after the foliage emerges from the ground. The leaves are divided into three segments and the flowers, produced on short stems, are held above the foliage with one flower per stem. They grow from underground root-like stems called
rhizomes and the foliage dies back down by mid summer (summer dormant). The rhizomes spread just below the soil surface, forming long spreading clumps that grow quickly, contributing to its rapid spread in woodland conditions, where they often carpet large areas.The
flower is 2 cm diameter, with six or sevenpetal -like segments (actuallytepal s) with manystamen s. In the wild the flowers are usually white, but may be pinkish, lilac or blue, and often have a darker tint to the back of the 'petals'. The flowers lack both fragrance and nectar and it has been suggested by some authors that they are primarily self-pollinated, but it has also been demonstrated that they are pollinated by bees and other insects that visit the flowers to collect pollen (Shirreffs 1985).Yellow wood anemone, "
Anemone ranunculoides ", also known as the buttercup anemone, is a similar plant with slightly smaller flowers of rich yellow colouring.Medicinal uses
The plant contains
poisonous chemicals that are toxic to animals including humans, but it has also been used as a medicine. All parts of the plant containprotoanemonin , which can cause severe skin and gastrointestinal irritation.Cultivation
Many
cultivar s have been selected for garden use eg "Anemone nemorosa" 'Allenii' which has large blue flowers. It has been awarded anAward of Garden Merit (AGM) H4 (hardy throughout the British Isles) by theRoyal Horticultural Society , as have several of its cultivars (see below).The "RHS Plant Finder 2008–2009" lists 70 cultivars of "Anemone nemorosa" (AGM H4) available from nurseries in the UK. Some of those most widely available are:
* 'Alba Plena' - double white
* 'Allenii' (AGM H4) - large lavender-blue flowers, often with seven petals (Named after James Allen, nurseryman)
* 'Bowles' Purple' - purple flowers (Named after E.A. Bowles, plantsman and garden writer)
* 'Bracteata Pleniflora' - double, white flowers, with green streaks and a frilly ruff ofbracts
* 'Robinsoniana' (AGM H4) - pale lavender-blue flowers (Named afterWilliam Robinson , plantsman and garden writer)
* 'Royal Blue' - deep blue flowers with purple backs
* 'Vestal' (AGM H4) - white, anemone-centred flowers
* 'Virescens' (AGM H4) - flowers mutated into small conical clusters of leaves."Anemone" × "lipsiensis", a hybrid between "A. nemorosa" and "A. ranunculoides", has pale yellow flowers; "A." × "lipsiensis" 'Pallida' is the best-known result of this cross. It has been awarded the AGM H4, like both of its parents.
ources
* Shirreffs, D.A. 1985. "Anemone nemorosa" L. "Journal of Ecology" 73: 1005-1020.
* "RHS Plant Finder 2008–2009", Tony Lord (editor), Dorling Kindersley (2008) ISBN 978-1-4053-3190-6
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.