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Anemone virginiana is an upright growing herbaceous species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. It is a perennial that grows 30–80 centimetres (12–31 in) tall, flowering from May until July. The flowers are white or greenish-white. After flowering, the fruits are produced in dense rounded thimble-shaped spikes 15–35 millimetres (0.59–1.38 in) long and 12 millimetres (0.47 in) wide. When the fruits, called achenes, are ripe they have gray-white colored, densely woolly styles, that allow them to blow away in the wind. The leaf structure is whorled halfway up the stem and each individual leaf appears to be deeply cut. It is native from eastern North America, where it is found growing in dry or open woods.[1] This plant can be found in 38 out of the 50 states in the United States and is located anywhere from Maine to Minnesota going west, and found as far south as Georgia and Louisiana. [2]

Common names include tall anemone, thimble-weed[3] and tumble-weed.[3] Note that several other plant species are known as "thimbleweed".

Anemone virginiana

Although this plant sometimes is called a "tumbleweed", it lacks the characteristic tumbleweed habit. The fruit resembles a tumbleweed in that it is wind-dispersed and tumbles, an unusual mechanism of seed dispersal (see Diaspore (botany)).

Anemone virginiana was also given the common name "Thimbleweed" due to its pistil resembling the shape of a thimble. This plant is very durable in different weather conditions, ranging from part shade to sun and being drought and cold tolerant. It prefers acidic soils but will tolerate liming, making it great for gardens. [4]

Varieties

Plants of the World Online accepts two botanical varieties of A. virginiana, A. virginiana var. alba and A. virginiana var. cylindroidea.[5] A. virginia var. alba has a native range from eastern Canada to the north central and northeastern United States.[6][7] A. virginiana var. cylindroidea is found across Canada and the north central and northeastern United States.[8]

References

  1. ^ Flora of North America Vol 3, Magnoliophyta:Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae. Flora of North America Editorial Committee. Oxford University Press. 1997. pp. 139–158. ISBN 0-19-511246-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ "Anemone virginiana". Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  3. ^ a b Nathaniel Lord Britton, Addison Brown (1913). An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions: From Newfoundland to the Parallel of the Southern Boundary of Virginia, and from the Atlantic Ocean Westward to the 102d Meridian. Vol. 2. C. Scribner's sons. page 99
  4. ^ "Anemone virginiana". Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. The University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Anemone virginiana L. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  6. ^ "Anemone virginiana var. alba (Oakes) Alph.Wood | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  7. ^ Flora of North America Vol 3, Magnoliophyta:Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae. Flora of North America Editorial Committee. Oxford University Press. 1997. pp. 139–158. ISBN 0-19-511246-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. ^ "Anemone virginiana var. cylindroidea Boivin | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2022-06-23.


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