Anemone occidentalis
Anemone acutiloba
mountain pasqueflower, pulsatille, western anemone, western pasqueflower
anémone à lobes aigus, hépatique à lobes aigus, sharp-lobed hepatica, sharplobe hepatica
10-60(-75) cm, from caudices, caudices ascending to vertical.
5-19 cm, from rhizomes, rhizomes ascending to horizontal.
(2-)3-6(-8), primarily 3-foliolate with each leaflet pinnatifid to dissected;
petiole 6-8(-12) cm;
terminal leaflet petiolulate, ovate in outline, (2.5-)3-6(-8) cm, base cuneate, margins pinnatifid to dissected throughout, apex narrowly acute, surfaces villous;
lateral leaflets 2x-parted, pinnatifid; ultimate segments 2-3 mm wide.
3-15, often purplish abaxially, simple, deeply divided;
petiole 3-19 cm;
leaf blade widely orbiculate, 1.3-8 × 1.8- -11.5 cm, base cordate, margins entire, apex acute or acuminate, surfaces strongly villous to glabrescent;
lobes 3(-5), deltate, 0.7-4 cm wide;
middle lobe 70-90% of total blade length.
1-flowered;
peduncle woolly or densely villous, glabrate;
involucral bracts 3, occasionally more, 1-tiered, ±similar to basal leaves, 3-foliolate, ovate in outline, bases distinct;
terminal leaflet petiolulate, 2.5-7 cm (2.5 cm in flower, 7 cm or less in fruit), margins pinnatifid throughout, apex narrowly acute, surfaces villous;
lateral leaflets 2x-parted, pinnatifid; ultimate segments 2-3 mm wide.
1-flowered, villous to pilose;
involucral bracts 3, 1-tiered, simple, dissimilar to basal leaves, lanceolate to ovate, 0.53-1.8 × 0.27-0.95 cm, sessile, calyx-like, closely subtending flowers, bases distinct, cuneate, margins entire, apex acute, strongly villous to glabrescent.
sepals 5-7, white, tinged purple (rarely abaxially blue proximally, white distally, and adaxially white), ovate to obovate, rarely elliptic, 15-30 × 10-17(-19) mm, abaxially hairy, adaxially glabrous;
stamens 150-200.
sepals 5-12, white to pink or bluish, ovate to obovate, 6-14.6 × 2.2-5.8 mm, glabrous;
petals absent;
stamens 10-30.
body ellipsoid, 3-4 × ca. 1.5 mm, not winged, villous;
beak curved or recurved, reflexed with age, (18-)20-40(-50) mm, long-villous, plumose.
body narrowly ovoid, 3.5-4.7 × 1.3-1.9 mm, slightly winged, hispid, gradually tapering;
beak indistinct.
spheric, rarely cylindric;
pedicel 15-20(-22) cm.
spheric;
pedicel 0.1-0.4 cm.
=16.
=14.
Anemone occidentalis
Anemone acutiloba
W. J. Hooker (1829) included Anemone occidentalis in his concept of Anemone alpina Linnaeus.
The Thompson Indians and the Okanagan used decoctions prepared from the roots of Anemone occidentalis to treat stomach and bowel troubles (D. E. Moerman 1986).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
In North America, Anemone acutiloba and A. americana are sufficiently well differentiated to enable the distinction of the two species. Some intermediates do occur but it is uncertain as to whether thes intermediates or hybrids. The fact that the two species are highly sympatric and still maintain their differences implies that they should still be recognized as distinctive species (see G.L. Stebbins 1993).
The two North American species formerly placed in Hepatica are closely allied to the Eurasian Anemone hepatica Linnaeus [=Hepatica nobilis Miller, Hepatica hepatica (Linnaeus) Karst]. Among European collections, plants approach either A. acutiloba or A. americana in leaf morphology, but some intermediates are found (J. A. Steyermark and C. S. Steyermark 1960). North American plants differ from A. hepatica in having narrower sepals, larger involucral bracts, and shorter and less pubescent scapes. Further research, including a comparative study of breeding systems, is needed to clarify the relationship between Anemone hepatica, A. acutiloba, and A. americana. Pending such work, the eastern North American hepaticas are here recognized as distinct species.
D. E. Moerman (1986) lists Hepatica acutiloba as one of the plants used medicinally by Native Americans in the treatment of abdominal pains, poor digestion, and constipation, as a wash for "twisted mouth or crossed eyes," and as a gynecological aid.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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