Anemone virginiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anemone virginiana |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Anemone
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| Species: |
virginiana
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The Anemone virginiana is a type of plant often called the tall anemone, thimble-weed, or tumble-weed. It is a perennial plant, meaning it lives for more than two years. This plant grows upright and is native to eastern North America. You can find it in many parts of the United States and Canada.
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About the Tall Anemone
This plant is a herbaceous plant, which means it has soft stems, not woody ones like trees. It belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, also known as the buttercup family.
What Does It Look Like?
The tall anemone usually grows between 30 and 80 centimeters (about 1 to 2.5 feet) tall. It has white or greenish-white flowers that bloom from May to July.
After the flowers fade, they produce interesting fruits. These fruits grow in a dense, rounded, thimble-shaped spike. Each spike is about 15 to 35 millimeters long and 12 millimeters wide.
How Its Seeds Travel
The fruits are called achenes. When they are ripe, they are gray-white and covered in fuzzy, woolly hairs. These hairs help the fruits blow away in the wind, spreading the seeds far and wide. This is a special way for the plant to spread its seeds.
The leaves of the tall anemone grow in a circle, or "whorl," about halfway up the stem. Each leaf looks like it has been cut deeply into several parts.
Where Does It Grow?
Anemone virginiana loves to grow in dry or open woods. It is found across a large area of eastern North America. In the United States, it grows in 38 out of 50 states. You can find it as far north as Maine and Minnesota, and as far south as Georgia and Louisiana.
Why Is It Called "Thimbleweed"?
One of its common names is "Thimbleweed." This name comes from the shape of its pistil, which is the part of the flower that receives pollen. It looks a lot like a thimble, a small cap worn on the finger when sewing.
Even though it's sometimes called "tumbleweed," it doesn't roll around like a true tumbleweed. Only its fruits tumble and get carried by the wind.
Growing Conditions
The tall anemone is a very tough plant. It can handle different weather conditions. It grows well in both partial shade and full sun. It is also good at surviving droughts (long periods without rain) and cold weather. This plant prefers acidic soil but can also grow in soil that has been treated with lime. This makes it a great choice for many gardens.
