Wood Anemone

Plant Info

Also known as:	Nightcaps
Scientific name:	Anemone quinquefolia
Family:	Buttercup (Ranunculaceae)
Life cycle:	perennial
Origin:	native
Habitat:	shade; woods
Bloom season:	spring
Plant height:	4 to 8 inches
USDA PLANTS database:	Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:	Long Lake Regional Park Vadnais/Snail Lake Regional Park

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Detailed Information

Flower:

A single 1-inch wide flower rises above the leaves. Each flower has 4 to 9 sepals that look like petals, 5 is most common. Flower is usually white with a greenish-yellow center and many white stamen. It is occasionally pink. 

Leaves:

Whorls of 3 to 5 leaves; each leaf is about 1¼ inches long, lobed or deeply divided and has coarse rounded teeth. The leaves and stem are covered in fine hairs.

Notes:

Wood Anemone tends to grow in thick mats. A single plant may take 5 years or longer to flower, so often only a few flowers are seen among the leaves.

More photos

• a patch of Wood Anemone
• a flower with 6 sepals 

All photos taken at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, Coon Rapids, MN April 2007.

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Ramsey County, or have any other comments about it?

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