Narcissus anemone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Narcissus anemone |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Anemonastrum
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| Species: |
narcissiflorum
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The Anemonastrum narcissiflorum, often called the narcissus anemone or narcissus-flowered anemone, is a lovely wild flower. It is a herbaceous perennial plant, which means it has soft stems (not woody like a tree) and lives for more than two years, coming back each spring. This plant belongs to the Anemonastrum group and is part of the buttercup family.
Contents
What the Narcissus Anemone Looks Like
These plants can grow from about 7 to 60 centimeters (3 to 24 inches) tall. They grow from a special woody base called a caudex. You can often see them flowering from spring to mid-summer, and sometimes even later.
The plant usually has 3 to 10 leaves at its base. These leaves are ternate, meaning they are arranged in groups of three leaflets. They are round or triangular and have stems (called petioles) that are about 4 to 20 millimeters (about 1/8 to 3/4 inches) long.
Flowers and How They Grow
The flowers grow in clusters, usually with 2 to 8 flowers together. Sometimes, they might appear alone. These flower clusters are called umbels. Below the flowers, there are 3 leaf-like parts called bracts. They look like smaller, simpler versions of the main leaves.
The flowers themselves don't have true petals. Instead, they have 5 to 9 petal-like parts called sepals. These sepals are usually white, sometimes with a hint of blue, or even yellow. Each flower typically has many stamens (the parts that produce pollen), usually between 40 and 80, but sometimes up to 100!
Seeds and Fruits
After the flowers bloom, they produce fruits in round heads. These fruits hang on stems (called pedicels) that are about 5 to 14 centimeters (2 to 5 1/2 inches) long. The fruits are called achenes. They are flat, oval-shaped, and measure about 5 to 9 millimeters (3/16 to 3/8 inches) long and 4 to 6 millimeters (about 1/8 to 1/4 inches) wide. These achenes have small wings and no hairs. They also have tiny curved or bent "beaks" that are about 0.8 to 1.5 millimeters (about 1/32 to 1/16 inches) long.
Where the Narcissus Anemone Grows
The Anemonastrum narcissiflorum is found naturally in parts of north-western North America and Eurasia. You can spot it growing in high mountain areas like alpine grasslands, in thickets, and in grassy meadows where the soil is moist. It also likes tundra, open woods, roadsides, and pastures.
Different Kinds of Narcissus Anemone
This plant can look quite different depending on where it grows. Because of this, scientists have recognized at least 12 different types, or varieties, of this species. Some experts have even suggested there are more!
The name of the species has been debated by scientists. Some have called it Anemone narcissifolia, but Anemone narcissiflora was suggested to be the official name to keep things clear.
Three of these varieties are found in North America:
- Anemone narcissiflora L. var. villosissima DC. - Found in Alaska.
- Anemone narcissiflora L. var. monantha DC. - Found in Alaska, eastern Yukon, and northern Northwest Territories in Canada.
- Anemone narcissiflora L. var. zephyra (A. Nels.) Dutton & Keener – Found in Colorado and Wyoming.
The other varieties are found in Eurasia.
Images for kids
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A beautiful flower on July 27, 2002, on Mount Tsubakuro.
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A close-up of a leaf on August 5, 2007, on Mount Kita.
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Seeds of the plant on August 16, 2007, on Mt. Kita.
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A natural garden of these flowers on July 27, 2002, on Mt. Tsubakuro.
See also
In Spanish: Anemone narcissiflora para niños
