WOOD ANEMONE.
_Anemone nemorosa._
“Within the wood,
Whose young and half transparent leaves,
Scarce cast a shade; gay circles of anemones,
Danced on their stalks.”
BRYANT.
THE classical name ANEMONE is derived from a Greek word, which signifies
the _wind_, because it was thought that the flower opened out its
blossoms only when the wind was blowing. Whatever the habits of the
Anemone of the Grecian Isles may be, assuredly in their native haunts in
this country, the blossoms open alike in windy weather or in calm; in
shade or in sunshine. It is more likely that the wind acting upon the
downy seeds of some species and dispersing them abroad, has been the
origin of the idea, and has given birth to the popular name which poets
have made familiar to the ear with many sweet lines. Bryant, who is the
American poet of nature, for he seems to revel in all that is fair among
the flowers and streams and rocks and forest shades, has also given the
name of “_wind flower_” to the blue hepatica.
The subject of our plate, the little white pink-edged flower at the left
hand corner of the group, is _Anemone nemorosa_, the smaller “WOOD
ANEMONE.”
This pretty delicate species loves the moderate shade of groves and
thickets, it is often found in open pinelands of second growth, and
evidently prefers a light and somewhat sandy soil to any other, with
glimpses of sunshine stealing down upon it.
The Wood Anemone is from 4 to 9 inches in height, but seldom taller, the
five rounded sepals which form the flower are white, tinged with a
purplish-red or dull pink on the outside. The leaves are three parted,
divided again in three, toothed and sharply cut and somewhat coarse in
texture; the three upper stem leaves form an involucre about midway
between the root and the flower-cup.
Our Wood Anemone is a cheerful little flower gladdening us with its
blossoms early in the month of May. It is very abundant in the
neighbourhood of Toronto, on the grassy banks and piny-dells at Dover
Court, and elsewhere.
“There thickly strewn in woodland bowers,
Anemones their stars unfold.”
A somewhat taller species, with very white starry flowers, is found on
gravelly banks under the shade of shrubs near the small lakes formed by
the Otonabee river, _N. Douro_, where also, we find the downy seeded
species known as “Thimble-weed,” _Anemone cylindrica_, from the
cylindrical heads of fruit. The “Thimble-weed” is not very attractive
for beauty of colour; the flower is greenish-white, small, two of the
sepals being shorter and less conspicuous than the others; the plant is
from 1 to 2 ft. high; the leaves of the cut and pointed involucre are
coarse, of a dull green, surrounding the several long flower-stalks. The
soft cottony seeds remain in close heads through the winter, till the
spring breezes disperse them.
The largest species of our native Anemones is _A. Virginiana_, “TALL
ANEMONE.” This handsome plant loves the shores of lakes and streams;
damp rich ground suits it well, as it grows freely in such soil, and
under moderate shade when transferred to the garden.
The foliage of the tall Anemone is coarse, growing in whorls round the
stem, divisions of the leaf three parted, sharply pointed and toothed.
In this, as in all the species, the coloured sepals, (or calyx leaves)
form the flower. The outer surface of the flower is covered with minute
silky hairs, the round flattened silky buds rise singly on tall naked
stems, the upper series are supplied with two small leaflets embracing
the stalk. The central and largest flowers open first, the lateral or
outer ones as these fade away; thus a succession of blossoms is
produced, which continue to bloom for several weeks. The flowers of this
sort, under cultivation, become larger and handsomer than in their wild
state, ivory white, tinged with purple. The Anemone is always a
favourite flower wherever it may be seen, whether in British woods, on
Alpine heights, or in Canadian wilds; on banks of lonely lakes and
forest streams; or in the garden parterre, where it is rivalled by few
other flowers in grace of form or splendour of colour.
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