Anemones are members of the Ranunculaceae or buttercup family, which also includes hellebores, clematis and aquilegia. The wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa) originates from Europe and, as its common name suggests, it is often found in woodland, though it also grows in grassland, heaths and hedge banks. Its pure white flowers carpet the woodland floor from March onwards, often mingling with the bluebells during April and May. Seeing these two graceful perennials shimmering together beneath the emerging tree foliage, makes any woodland visit a spring delight.
Wood anemones are also known as windflowers as their petals are easily blown about by the breeze. The genus Anemone comes from anemos (the Greek for wind) with nemorosa referring to its preferred woodland habitat. Recently renamed Anemonoides nemorosa (the new genus meaning ‘anemone-like’), wood anemones are often still referred to by their previous Latin name. Several old local terms for wood anemones refer to the white colour of the starry blooms. These evocative names include Moon-flower, Granny’s Nightcap and, according to the Northamptonshire poet John Clare, Lady Smocks.
Wood anemones spread very slowly, at around 2-5cm a year. The seed is usually infertile, so colonies primarily increase via creeping rhizomes – underground stems that spread just below the surface of the soil. Like English bluebells, these delicate spring beauties have been used as indicators of ancient deciduous woodland, particularly in the south and east of Britain.
Wood anemones can grow in deep shade but they thrive in areas of coppiced woods where more sunlight reaches the woodland floor. They produce pollen and, contrary to earlier beliefs, it was discovered recently that they also produce
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