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narcissus anemone, narcissus-flower anemone

Carolina anemone

Aerial shoots

7-60 cm, from caudices, caudices ascending to vertical.

5-35(-60) cm, from tubers with rhizomes near apex, tubers ascending or vertical, rhizomes horizontal or ascending.

Basal leaves

3-10, ternate;

petiole (2-)4-20 cm;

terminal leaflet ±sessile, obtriangular to oblanceolate, (2.5-)3-6(-9) × 2-10 cm, base narrowly cuneate to cuneate, margins incised (sometimes with few serrate teeth) on distal 1/3, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces glabrous or puberulous to villous or pilose;

lateral leaflets 1-3x-parted and -lobed; ultimate lobes 3-10 mm wide.

1-3(-5), 1-2-ternate;

petiole 3-9(-10) cm;

terminal leaflet petiolulate, rarely sessile, obtriangular, 2-3-cleft, 1-3 × 0.8-2(-2.5) cm, base narrowly attenuate to strongly and narrowly cuneate, margins serrate, rarely dissected on distal 2/3, apex obtuse to broadly acute, surfaces glabrous;

lateral leaflets ±pinnately 1-2(-3)×-lobed or -parted; ultimate lobes 2-10 mm wide.

Inflorescences

2-8-flowered umbels or flowers solitary;

peduncle puberulous to villous or pilose to nearly glabrous;

involucral bracts (2-)3, 1-tiered, simple, greatly reduced, otherwise similar to basal leaves, obtriangular, distally 3-cleft and pinnatifid, (1-)1.5-5(-5.5) cm, bases clasping, ±connate, margins incised on distal 1/3, apex acuminate-acute to obtuse, surfaces glabrous or puberulous to villous or pilose;

segments primarily 3, subulate or narrowly obtriangular;

lateral segments unlobed or 2-3x-parted and -lobed; ultimate lobes 3-10 mm wide.

1-flowered;

peduncle proximally glabrous, distally villous;

involucral bracts 3, borne below middle of scape at anthesis, 1-tiered, simple, ±similar to basal leaves, obtriangular, 3-cleft, 1-2.5 cm, bases somewhat clasping, connate, margins incised on distal 1/2, apex acuminate, surfaces sparsely pilose;

segments 3, broadly linear;

lateral segments 1-2x-lobed or -parted; ultimate lobes 1-2.5 mm wide.

Flowers

sepals 5-9, white or yellow, or abaxially white, tinged blue, white, or blue, and adaxially white, ovate to rhombic or obovate, 8-20 × 5-13(-15) mm, glabrous;

stamens 40-80(-100).

sepals 10-20(-30), white to rose or blue to purple, linear to oblong, (6-)10-20(-22) × 2-5(-7) mm, abaxially sparsely hairy, adaxially glabrous or nearly so;

stamens 50-60.

Achenes

body ellipsoid to ovate, flat, 5-9 × (3-)4-6 mm, winged, glabrous;

beak curved to recurved, 0.8-1.5 mm, glabrous.

body ovoid, 1.5-2.5(-3) × ca. 2 mm, not winged, densely woolly;

beak straight, 1.3-2 mm, projecting beyond achene indument, proximally tomentose, not plumose.

Heads of achenes

spheric;

pedicel (4.5-)5-14(-18.5) cm.

fusiform;

pedicel (5-)10-20 cm.

2n

=14.

=16.

Anemone narcissiflora

Anemone caroliniana

Phenology Flowering winter–spring (Feb–Apr).
Habitat Dry prairies, barrens, pastures, meadows, rocky, open woods
Elevation 60-700m (200-2300ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; CO; WY; BC; NT; YT; Eurasia
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AL; AR; GA; IA; IL; KS; LA; MN; MO; MS; NE; OK; SC; SD; TN; TX; WI
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Varieties ca. 12 (3 in the flora).

J. Jalas (1988), W. Greuter (1989), W. Greuter et al. (1989), J. Jalas and J. Suominen (1989), and T. G. Tutin et al. (1993+, vol. 1) have recently used the name Anemone narcissifolia Linnaeus because they considered Anemone narcissiflora an illegitimate name. B. E. Dutton et al. (1995) recently proposed to conserve the orthography of Anemone narcissiflora, and the authors of this treatment ollow 14A.1 of the Code, which recommends following "existing usage as far as possible pending the General Committee's recommendation on the proposal" (W. Greuter et al. 1994).

The taxonomy of this highly variable, widespread species is extremely controversial. The conservative approach taken here most closely approximates S.L. Welsh's (1974) treatment for the Alaskan varieties. E. Hultén's discussion (1941-1950, vol. 4, pp. 735-736) of local races and the variation within this species, however, clearly illustrates the need for a thorough biosystematic investigation. Recognition of about 12 varieties is in light of S. V. Juzepczuk's (1970) work; however, he elevated local races to specific rank in his treatment.

The Aleuts used Anemone narcissiflora (no varieties specified) medicinally as an antihemorrhagic (D. E. Moerman 1986).

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Anemone caroliniana was recorded from Indiana (Vigo County); it has since been extirpated.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Key
1. Lateral segments of involucral bracts lobed; petiole of basal leaves 15–20 cm; inflorescences umbels; stamens 60–80(–100).
var. villosissima
1. Lateral segments of involucral bracts unlobed; petiole of basal leaves (2–)4–10 cm; inflorescences umbels or flowers solitary; stamens 40–60.
→ 2
2. Sepals (when fresh) white or abaxially white or blue and adaxially white (drying yellow); body of achenes 6–9 mm.
var. monantha
2. Sepals (when fresh) yellow; body of achenes ca. 5 mm.
var. zephyra
Source FNA vol. 3. FNA vol. 3.
Parent taxa Ranunculaceae > Anemone Ranunculaceae > Anemone
Sibling taxa
A. acutiloba, A. americana, A. berlandieri, A. canadensis, A. caroliniana, A. cylindrica, A. deltoidea, A. drummondii, A. edwardsiana, A. grayi, A. lancifolia, A. lyallii, A. multiceps, A. multifida, A. occidentalis, A. okennonii, A. oregana, A. parviflora, A. patens, A. piperi, A. quinquefolia, A. richardsonii, A. tuberosa, A. virginiana
A. acutiloba, A. americana, A. berlandieri, A. canadensis, A. cylindrica, A. deltoidea, A. drummondii, A. edwardsiana, A. grayi, A. lancifolia, A. lyallii, A. multiceps, A. multifida, A. narcissiflora, A. occidentalis, A. okennonii, A. oregana, A. parviflora, A. patens, A. piperi, A. quinquefolia, A. richardsonii, A. tuberosa, A. virginiana
Subordinate taxa
A. narcissiflora var. monantha, A. narcissiflora var. villosissima, A. narcissiflora var. zephyra
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 542. (1753) Walter: Fl. Carol., 157. (1788)
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