The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

narcissus anemone, narcissus-flower anemone

anémone de Richardson, yellow anemone, yellow thimbleweed

Aerial shoots

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

5-30 cm, from rhizomes, rhizomes horizontal.

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, simple;

petiole (0.8-)2-8(-12) cm;

leaf blade reniform to ±orbiculate, (1-)1.5-3(-4) × 1.5-4 cm, base somewhat cordate, margins crenate to serrate ±throughout, apex acute to broadly acute, surfaces glabrous or ±villous, or abaxially glabrescent;

segments primarily 3, rhombic;

lateral segments unlobed or 1x-lobed; ultimate lobes 4-10(-15) 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 puberulous;

involucral bracts 2-3, 1-tiered, simple, ±similar to basal leaves, primarily rhombic, 1-3.5 cm, bases distinct, cuneate, margins crenate on distal 1/2, apex acute to narrowly acute, surfaces glabrous or ±villous, or abaxially glabrescent;

segments 3, primarily rhombic;

lateral segments unlobed, 2-10 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 (4-)6(-8), yellow (rarely abaxially yellow, tinged blue, and adaxially yellow), elliptic, 8-15 × 4-10 mm, abaxially villous, especially proximally, adaxially glabrous;

stamens 25-55.

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 to oblong, 3-4 × ca. 1.5 mm, not winged, glabrous;

beak recurved, 4-6 mm, glabrous.

Heads of achenes

spheric;

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

loosely spheric;

pedicel 3-20 cm.

2n

=14.

=14.

Anemone narcissiflora

Anemone richardsonii

Phenology Flowering spring–summer (May–Aug).
Habitat Thickets, moist woods, meadows, slopes
Elevation 20-2200 m (100-7200 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AK; CO; WY; BC; NT; YT; Eurasia
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
AK; AB; BC; MB; NF; NT; QC; SK; YT; Greenland; Asia
[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.)

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. caroliniana, 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. tuberosa, A. virginiana
Subordinate taxa
A. narcissiflora var. monantha, A. narcissiflora var. villosissima, A. narcissiflora var. zephyra
Synonyms A. vahlii
Name authority Linnaeus: Sp. Pl. 1: 542. (1753) Hooker: Fl. Bor.-Amer. 1: 6. (1829)
Web links