ANEMIDICTYON. See [Anemia.]
ANEMONE (from anemos, wind; the greater part of the species grow in elevated places, much exposed to the wind). Wind Flower. ORD. Ranunculaceæ. An extensive genus of very ornamental hardy perennials. The generic characters of Anemone proper are: Involucre of three cut leaflets, distant from the flower; calyx of five to twenty petal-like sepals; petals absent. Of sub-genus Hepatica: Involucre of three entire leaflets, just under the flowers; calyx of six to nine petal-like sepals; petals absent. For botanical purposes, they are both now included under the one generic name of Anemone; but in gardens the Hepaticas are frequently regarded as a distinct genus. They delight in a rich sandy loam, but most will thrive in ordinary garden soil. Some are suitable for borders, while others thrive best on the rockery, most of them preferring a damp and partially shady position. For the numerous varieties of A. coronaria, both double and single flowered, the soil can hardly be too rich, and the position, though open, should be a sheltered one, and well drained. The tubers may be planted early in October, about 6in. apart, and 3in. deep, various colours being intermixed, when a splendid effect is produced in the following spring. After flowering, the tubers should be taken up—say in June—and spread out thinly, in a shady, airy situation, until they are dry, when they should be thoroughly cleaned, and, if necessary, divided, and finally stored away in a cool place, in pots or boxes of dry sand until the planting season. Anemones make admirable pot plants if placed in a compost of two parts turfy loam, and one of leaf mould or rotten hotbed or cow manure, with about a sixth part of sharp gritty sand; but, if so grown, they should be protected through severe weather, and brought into warmth as required. The herbaceous species are propagated by root divisions or root cuttings, or by seeds, in autumn or early spring; the seeds are better sown as soon as ripe in pans in a cold frame. Some, such as A. japonica, are freely increased by division; while others, such as A. narcissiflora, are very slow; and the tuberous rooted ones, by root division and seeds. The best and most rapid means of propagating the invaluable varieties of A. coronaria, and also of obtaining new ones, is by seed. A careful selection of flowers, and skilful hybridising, will produce results commensurate with the trouble incurred. So soon as the seed ripen, they should be gathered and sown at once in a warm sheltered situation outside, or in pans under glass, covering lightly with sandy soil, and keeping moist. They are somewhat difficult to sow on account of a mass of cotton-like down which adheres closely to them; they should be thoroughly separated therefrom by rubbing them in dry sand. Of course, if the seed are sown at different times, plants will be produced which will flower at different periods, and a succession of bloom may be had from April to November—indeed, nearly all the year.
A. alba (white). fl. white; pedicel solitary; sepals five, obovate, very blunt. June. l. ternate or quinate; segments deeply toothed at top; those of the involucre stalked. h. 6in. Siberia, 1820.
A. alpina (alpine).* fl. variously coloured, sometimes white, white with the back purple, cream, yellowish or yellow with their backs paler; sepals six, spreading, elliptical, rarely ovate. May. l. sometimes smooth, sometimes clothed with long crowded silky hairs, biternate; segments pinnate and deeply serrated; involucre of the same form. h. 6in. Middle Europe, 1658. Very handsome alpine. Plant on the rockery in rich deep soil, with a damp situation. SYN. Pulsatilla alpina.
A. a. sulphurea (sulphur).* fl. beautiful soft yellow, 2in. to 2½in. across when expanded, but they are usually cup-shaped; sepals six, covered with a silky down outside; anthers of a rich golden colour. May and June. l. radical, stalked, drooping, more than 1ft. long; leaflets pinnatifid, deeply toothed. A very beautiful form, thriving in ordinary garden soil, and a rather moist situation. See Fig. 92.
FIG. 92. ANEMONE ALPINA SULPHUREA, showing Habit and Flower.
A. americana (American). A synonym of A. Hepatica.
A. angulosa (angled).* fl. fine sky blue, over 2in. across, with numerous black anthers surrounding a tuft of yellow styles; sepals eight to nine, elliptical, spreading. February. l. palmately five-lobed; lobes serrated. h. 8in. to 12in. East Europe. A very fine species, twice the size of A. Hepatica in all its parts; it is well suited for the border or rockery, enjoying a deep rich soil. SYN. Hepatica angulosa.
A. apennina (Apennine).* fl. blue, 1½in. across; sepals ten to fourteen, oblong, obtuse, erect; pedicel one-flowered. March. l. binately pinnate; segments lanceolate, deeply-toothed, acute. h. 6in. England (naturalised here and there), and Southern Europe. An exceedingly pretty plant, with soft-looking feathery foliage. It thrives best under the partial shade of trees, where the flowers retain their colour longer. Tuberous rooted.
A. baldensis (Mount Baldo).* fl. white, clothed with adpressed hairs on the outside, and reddish tinged with blue; sepals eight to ten, oblong-oval; pedicels one-flowered. May. l. biternate; segments many-parted; lobes linear; involucral leaves multifid. h. 6in. Switzerland, 1792. A. cœrulea is probably identical with this species. Shady parts of the rockery. Rare. Tuberous rooted.
A. blanda (fair).* fl. deep blue, nearly 2in. across; sepals nine to fourteen, narrow. Winter or early spring. l. triternate; segments deeply cut and acute; involucral leaves stalked, trifid, deeply cut. h. 6in. Eastern Europe. A very handsome early flowering plant. It requires a rich, light, and well drained sandy loam, and a warm, sheltered position. It closely resembles A. apennina, of which it is merely a form, with deeper blue flowers. Tuberous rooted.
A. caroliniana (Carolina). fl. purple or whitish, pubescent on the outside, on a long one-flowered pedicel; sepals ten to twenty, oblong-linear. May. l. ternate, with three-parted, or cut acutely-toothed lobes; involucral leaves trifid, with cut lobes. h. 9in. Carolina, 1824. A very slender and delicate plant. Shady parts of the rockery. Tuberous rooted.
A. cernua (drooping). fl. somewhat drooping, dark purple; sepals six, spreading, elliptical-oblong. May. l. pinnate, villous underneath; segments pinnatifid; lobes cut, oblong; scapes, petioles, and peduncles clothed with downy hairs. h. 6in. Japan, 1806. Rare.
A. coronaria (garland).* Poppy Anemone. fl. very various in colouring, solitary; sepals six, oval, approximate. April to May. l. ternate; segments multifid; lobules linear, mucronated; involucral leaves sessile, multifid. South Europe, 1596. This is one of the species from which the majority of "florists' varieties" have originated, which can be purchased at such a cheap rate, either in named varieties, or in mixture, and are invaluable for spring flowering. It thrives best in a good loamy soil, and should be somewhat shaded from the mid-day sun. Tuberous rooted. See Fig. 93.
FIG. 93. ANEMONE CORONARIA FLORE-PLENO.
