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Anemone (From anemos wind the greater)

(from anemos, wind; the greater part of the species grow in elevated places, much exposed to the wind). Wind Flower. ORD. Ranunculaceae. An extensive genus of very ornamental hardy perennial. The generic characters of Anemone proper are: Involucre of three cut leaflets, distant from the flower; calyx of five to twenty petal-like sepals; petals absent. Of sub-genus Hepatica: Involucre of three entire leaflets, just under the flowers; calyx of six to nine petal-like sepals; petals absent. For botanical purposes, they are both now included under the one generic name of Anemone; but in gardens the Hepaticas are frequently regarded as a distinct genus. They delight in a rich sandy loam, but most will thrive in ordinary garden soil. Some are suitable for borders, while others thrive best on the rockery, most of them prefering a damp and partially shady position. For the numerous varieties of A. coronaria, both double and single flowered, the soil can hardly be too rich, and the position, though open, should be a sheltered one, and well drained. The tubers may be planted early in October, about 6in. apart, and 3in. deep, various colours being intermixed, when a splendid effect is produced in the following spring. After flowering, the tubers should be taken up-say in June-and spread out thinly, in a shady, airy situation, until they are dry, when they should be thoroughly cleaned, and, if necessary, divided, and finally stored away in a cool place, in pot or boxes of dry sand until the planting season. Anemones make admirable pot plants if placed in a compost of two parts turfy loam, and one of leaf mould or rotten hotbed or cow manure, with about a sixth part of sharp gritty sand; but, if so grown, they should be protected through severe weather, and brought into warmth as required. The perennial species are propagated by root divisions or root cuttings, or by seeds, in autumn or early spring; the seeds are better sown as soon as ripe in pans in a cold frame. Some, such as A. japonica, are freely increased by division; while others, such as A. narcissiflora, are very slow; and the tuberous rooted ones, by root division and seeds. The best and most rapid means of propagating the invaluable varieties of A. coronaria, and also of obtaining new ones, is by seed. A careful selection of flowers, and skilful hybridising, will produce results commensurate with the trouble incurred. So soon as the seed ripen, they should be gathered and sown at once in a warm sheltered situation outside, or in pans under glass, covering lightly with sandy soil, and keeping moist. They are somewhat difficult to sow on account of a mass of cotton-like down which adheres closely to them; they should be thoroughly separated thereform by rubbing them in dry sand. Of course, if the seed are sown at different times, plants will be produced which will flower at different periods, and a succession of bloom may be had from April to November--indeed, nearly all the year.

A. alba (white). fl. white; pedicel solitary; sepals five, obovate, very blunt. June. l. ternate or quinate; segments deeply toothed at top; those of the involucre stalked. h. 6in. Siberia, 1820.

A. alpina (alpine).* fl. variously coloured, sometimes white, white with the back purple, cream, yellowish or yellow with their backs paler; sepals six, spreading, elliptical, rarely ovate. May. l. sometimes smooth, sometimes clothed with long crowded silky hairs, biternate; segments pinnate and deeply serrated; involucre of the same form. h. 6in. Middle Europe, 1658. Very handsome alpine. Plant on the rockery in rich deep soil, with a damp situation. SYN. Pulsatilla alpina.

A. a. sulphurea (sulphur).* fl. beautiful soft yellow, 2in. to 2 1/2in. across when expanded, but they are usually cup-shaped; sepals six, covered with a silky down outside; anthers of a rich golden colour. May and June. l. radical, stalked, drooping, more than 1ft. long; leaflets pinnatifid, deeply toothed. A very beautiful form, thriving in ordinary garden soil, and a rather moist situation.

A. americana (American). A synonym of A. Hepatica.

A. angulosa (angled).* fl. fine sky blue, over 2in. across, with numerous black anthers surrounding a tuft of yellow styles; sepals eight to nine, elliptical, spreading. February. l. palmately fivelobed; lobes serrated. h. 8in. to 12in. East Europe. A very fine species, twice the size of A. Hepatica in all its parts; it is well suited for the border or rockery, enjoying a deep rich soil. SYN. Hepatica angulosa.

A. apennina (Apennine).* fl. blue, 1 1/2in. across; sepals ten to fourteen, oblong, obtuse, erect; pedicel one-flowered. March. l. binately pinnate; segments lanceolate, deeply-toothed, acute. h. 6in. England (naturalised here and there), and Southern Europe. An exceedingly pretty plant, with soft-looking feathery foliage. It thrives best under the partial shade of trees, where the flowers retain their colour longer. Tuberous rooted. A. baldensis (Mount Baldo).* fl. white, clothed with adpressed hairs on the outside, and reddish tinged with blue; sepals eight to ten, oblong-oval; pedicels one-flowed. May. l. biternate; segments many-parted; lobes linear; involucral leaves multifid. h. 6in. Switzerland, 1792. A. caerulea is probably identical with this species. Shady parts of the rockery. Rare. Tuberous rooted.

A. blanda (fair).* fl. deep blue, nearly 2in. across; sepals nine to fourteen, narrow. Winter or early spring. l. triternate; segments deeply cut and acute; involucral leaves stalked, trifid, deeply cut. h. 6in. Eastern Europe. A very handsome early flowering plant. It requires a rich, light, and well drained sandy loam, and a warm, sheltered position. It closely resembles A. apennina, of which it is merely a form, with deeper blue flowers. Tuberous rooted. A. caroliniana (Carolina). fl. purple or whitish, pubescent on the outside, on a long one-flowered pedicel; sepals ten to twenty, oblong-linear. May. l. ternate, with three-parted, or cut acutely-toothed lobes; involucral leaves trifid, with cut lobes. h. 9in. Carolina, 1824. A very slender and delicate plant. Shady parts of the rockery. Tuberous rooted.

A. cernua (drooping). fl. somewhat drooping, dark purple; sepals six, spreading, elliptical-oblong. May. l. pinnate, villous under-neath; segments pinnatifid; lobes cut, oblong; scapes, petioles, and peduncles clothed with downy hairs. h. 6in. Japan, 1806. Rare.

A. coronaria (garland).* Poppy Anemone. fl. very various in colouring, solitary; sepals six, oval, approximate. April to May. l. ternate; segments multifid; lobules linear, mucronated; involucral leaves sessile, multifid. South Europe, 1596. This is one of the species from which the majority of "florist' varieties" have originated, which can be purchased at such a cheap rate, either in named varieties, or in mixture, and are invaluable for spring flowering. It thrives best in a good loamy soil, and should be somewhat shaded from the mid-day sun. Tuberous rooted.

A. decapetala (ten-petaled).* fl. cream white or pale sulphur, about 1in. to 2in. across, erect; sepals eight to twelve, oblong, spreading. May to June. l. tripartite, and freely divided into numerous linear-acute segments, of a deep green colour. h. 12in. to 18in. North-West America, &c. A pretty free-flowering species, suitable for naturalising in woods, &c. It is less ornamental than many others, but is very distinct.

A. dichotoma (forked).* fl. white, with a tinge of red on the under side; sepals five, elliptical; pedicels many, usually bifid. May. l. three parted; lobes oblong, deeply-toothed at top; those of the involucrum sessile. h. 1 1/2ft. Siberia, North America, &c., 1768. Border, or for naturalising in woods. SYN. A. pennsylvanica.

A. fulgens (shining).* fl. of a dazzling vermilion or scarlet, with a black central patch of stamens, about 2in. across; sepals obovate. May. Greece, South Europe, &c., 1865. A very beautiful variety, much more showy than A. hortensis (of which it is generally regarded as a variety), and a universal favourite. In "Hardy Perennials," Mr. Wood says of this splendid species: "It may be grown in pots for conservatory or indoor decoration. It needs no forcing for such purpose; a cold frame will prove sufficient to bring the flowers out in winter. Borders or the moist parts of rockwork are suitable for it; but perhaps it is seen to greatest advantage in irregular masses in the half shade of trees in front of a shrubbery; and, after all, it is impossible to plant this flower wrong as regards effect. To grow it well, however, it must have a moist situation and good loam."

A. Halleri (Haller's).* fl. purplish inside, large, erect; sepals six, oval-lanceolate. April. l. pinnate, very villous; segments three parted; lobes with lanceolate-linear, acuminated divisions. h. 6in. Switzerland, 1816. A sunny border or the rockery. SYN. Pulsatilla Halleri. A. Hepatica (supposed remedy for liver diseases). Common Hepatica. fl. usually blue; sepals six to nine. February. l. cordate, three-lobed; lobes quite entire, ovate, acutish; petioles and scapes rather hairy. h. 4in. to 6in. There are numerous varieties of this species. England, &c. SYN. Hepatica triloba. Varieties: alba has large pure white flowers; caerulea (blue), the double form of caerulea is scarce and very showy; rubra produces reddish-pink flowers, and of which there is also a double variety, very bright and lasting; Barlowi has large sky-blue flowers. Besides these there are many others. They are all charming early spring-flowering plants, preferring rich light soil, and to remain undisturbed for years, when they form grand clumps, often producing seedlings where they stand. SYN. A. americana. A. Honorine Jobert (Honorine Jobert) Synonymous with A. japonica alba. A. hortensis (garden). Nearly approaches A. coronaria, the parent of a large number of garden forms. A. fulgens and A. stellata are by competent authorities placed as varieties.

A. Hudsoniana (Hudson's). Synonymous with A. multifida. A. japonica (Japanese).* fl. rosy carmine, from 2in. to 2 1/2in. across, on footstalks which spring from a whorl of three or four leaves; anthers golden yellow. Autumn. l. ternate, with unequally lobed, toothed segments. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Japan, 1844.

A. j. alba (white).* This is a splendid variety, with a profusion of large pure white flowers, which are produced from August to November. This white form is one of the handsomest of border flowers. The blooms are 2in. to 3in. across, with a centre of dense lemon coloured stamens. For cutting purposes the flowers are invaluable. It thrives best in deep soil. SYN. A. Honorine Jobert.

A. j. elegans (elegant).* Very like A. japonica, with broader leaves, and pale rose-coloured flowers, which are more than 3in. across. This is also called rosea and hybrida. Japan.

A. lancifolia (lance-leaved). fl. white; sepals five, ovate-acute; scapes one-flowered. May. l. all stalked, ternate; segments lanceolate, crenate-toothed. h. 3in. Pennsylvania, 1823. Very rare. Rockery. Tuberous rooted.

A. multifida (many-cleft).* fl. red, whitish yellow, or citron colour, small; sepals five to ten, elliptical, obtuse; peduncles three, one-flowered, one of which is naked and earlier, the other two longer, and bearing two-leaved multifid involucels on their middle. June. l. radical ones ternate; segments cuneated, three parted, multifid, with linear lobes; those of the involucrum multifid, on short petioles. h. 6in. to 12in. North America. Border or rockery. SYN. A. Hudsoniana.

A. narcissiflora (Narcissus-flowered).* fl. usually cream coloured, sometimes purplish on the outside; umbels generally many-flowered; pedicels in some instances twice or three times longer than the involucrum, and in others very short; sepals five or six, ovate or oval, blunt or acute. May. l. radical ones palmately three to five parted; lobes deeply toothed; lobules linear, acute; those of the involucrum three to five cleft. h. about 1ft. Europe, North America, 1773. An extremely variable and beautiful species. Rockery. A. nemorosa (grove).* Wood Anemone. fl. generally white; sepals six, elliptical; scapes one-flowered. March. l. ternate; segments trifid, deeply toothed, lanceolate, acute; involucral leaves stalked. h. 6in. This species varies greatly in the colour of its flowers. It is a most beautiful little plant, frequent in our native woods, and suitable for planting in shaded shrubberies, &c. Tuberous rooted.

A. n. coerulea (blue),* from the North-west States of America, is very near, if not identical with, the variety Robinsoniana, of our native woods. A. n. flore-pleno (double-flowered).* fl. pure white, over 1in. across, solitary, double. This is an exceedingly pretty plant, and remains in beauty considerably longer than the type. It should be grown in large clumps, and in rich loam.

A. n. Robinsoniana (Robinson's).* fl. bright azure blue, large, over 1 1/2in. in diameter. A charming variety for the rockery or border, and one of the prettiest in the whole genus.

A. n. rosea (rosy).* A very pretty form, with rose-coloured flowers, of which there is a double flowered sub-variety; there is also a double form of the type, named bracteata fl.-pl., white flowers, surrounded with a large involucrum.

A. obtusiloba (blunt-lobed-leaved). fl. cream coloured; sepals five, obovate; peduncles two to three, one-flowered, villous, naked, or the lateral ones are bracteate. June. l. three lobed cordate, and are, as well as petioles, very villous; segments broadly cuneated, and deeply crenate; involucral leaves trifid. Himalaya, 1843. This species requires a warm and sheltered position. A. palmata (palmate).* fl. golden yellow; sepals ten to twelve, oblong, obtuse; scape one, rarely two, flowered. May. l. cordate, sub-orbicular, bluntly three to five-lobed, toothed; involucral leaves trifid. South-west Europe, 1597. A white flowered variety, though scarce, is in cultivation, and is very pretty. True alpines, which should be grown on the rockery, where the soil is both rich and deep, with a somewhat damp situation. Tuberous rooted. A. patens (spreading).* fl. purplish, or rarely yellow, erect, spreading, in the involucre almost sessile; sepals five to six. June. l. pinnate, rising after the flowers; segments three parted; lobes toothed at the top. Northern Europe, &c., 1752.

A. p. Nuttalliana (Nuttall's).* fl. purple, sometimes cream coloured, erect, villous on the outside; sepals five or six, erect, connivent. June. l. three parted; segments cuneate, trifid, cut; lobes linear-lanceolate, elongated; those of the involucre with linear lobes. h. 1ft. North America, 1826. A pretty border plant.

A. pavonina (peacock). Synonymous with A. stellata.

A. pennsylvanica (Pennsylvanian). Synonymous with A. dichotoma. A. pratensis (meadow).* fl. dark purple, pendulous; sepals six, erect, reflexed at the top, acute. May. l. pinnate, many parted; lobes linear. h. 6in. to 12in. Northern Europe, &c., 1731. Differs chiefly from the following species in having smaller flowers, sepals narrower and more acute, connivent at base, and reflexed at apex. SYN. Pulsatilla pratensis. A. Pulsatilla (common Pulsatilla).* Pasque Flower. fl. generally violet, sub-erect; sepals six, spreading, externally silky, very handsome. April. l. pinnate; segments many parted; lobes linear. h. 6in. to 12in. England, &c. A singular and beautiful species, thriving best in a dry situation and well-drained soil of a calcareous nature. It is a very pretty plant for a border or rockery; when well grown, it forms handsome tufts, and flowers very freely. SYN. Pulsatilla vulgaris. There are numerous varieties, the best of which are:

A. P. dahurica (Dahurian). fl. erect; sepals oblong, very villous. Plant dwarf. Sunny border or rockery.

A. P. lilacina (lilac). fl. lilac.

A. P. rubra (red). fl. erect; sepals blunter. Plant dwarfer. A. ranunculoides (Ranunculus-like).* fl. usually yellow (but in the Pyrenean variety purple), generally solitary, single or double; sepals five to six, elliptical. March. l. radical ones three to five parted; segments subtrifid, deeply toothed; those of the involucrum on short stalks three parted, deeply toothed. h. 3in. Naturalised in English woods, but rarely. Tuberous rooted. A. rivularis (river).* fl. white; anthers purple; sepals five, oval, smooth; pedicels three, one of which is naked. April. l. villous, as well as petioles, three parted; lobes cuneated, trifid; lobules cut, acutely toothed. h. 1ft. to 2ft. North India, 1840. Should be grown on the banks of running water, or in a damp situation in the border.

A. sibirica (Siberian). fl. white; sepals six, orbicular; scapes one-flowered. June. l. ternate; segments deeply toothed, ciliated, those of the involucrum on short stalks, ternate; segments lanceolate. h. 6in. Siberia, 1804. Rockery; very rare.

A. stellata (star-leaved).* fl. purple, or rose red, or whitish, solitary; sepals ten to twelve, oblong, bluntish. April. l. three parted; lobes cuneated, deeply-toothed; involucral leaves sessile, oblong. h. 8in. to 10in. South Europe, 1599. A pretty and gay spring flowering plant. Tuberous rooted. SYN. A. pavonina. Double forms of this occur in cultivation. A. sylvestris (wood).* Snowdrop Windflower. fl. pure satin white, slightly drooping, 1 1/2in. across when fully open, fragrant; sepals six, elliptical; pedicel solitary. April. l. ternate or quinate, hairy beneath; segments deeply toothed at top, those of the involucrum stalked. h. 6in. to 18in. Europe, 1596. This distinct and showy species thrives best in a light vegetable soil in a rather shady and moist situation. The roots are creeping, and should be allowed plenty of room, so that they may ramble without check. A. trifolia (three-leaved). fl. white, erect; sepals five, elliptical, obtuse.