''Anemonopsis'', the false anemone, is a monotypic genus in the family Ranunculaceae, containing only the species ''Anemonopsis macrophylla'', endemic to Japan's main island of Honshu. The generic name ''Anemonopsis'' refers to it being '' Anemone''-like ('), and its

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

''macrophylla'' means "large-leaved".

Description

''Anemonopsis'' is a

herbaceous perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also widel ...

growing approximately 75 cm high, with pale lavender flowers in late summer, each about 2 cm in diameter. The flowers are bowl-shaped with a rosette of petals in the center, and are downward facing. The flowers are held well above the foliage; although not a small plant, the overall impression is one of daintiness and airiness. When in full bloom, the flowers resemble small

lotus Lotus may refer to: Plants *Lotus (plant), various botanical taxa commonly known as lotus, particularly: ** ''Lotus'' (genus), a genus of terrestrial plants in the family Fabaceae **Lotus flower, a symbolically important aquatic Asian plant also ...

es, giving rise to its Japanese name of . The genus ''

Kirengeshoma ''Kirengeshoma'' is a genus containing two species of plants in the hydrangea family. Both are clump-forming perennials native to Eastern Asia, with sycamore-like palmate leaves and nodding, waxy yellow flowers on slender stalks, growing in shady ...

'' in turn is named after it. Native to Japan's colder temperate areas (southern Tōhoku to Kinki), ''Anemonopsis'' is frost-hardy at least to zone 4. It is a true woodland plant and cannot tolerate full sun without the leaves scorching, except perhaps in very cool, damp climates. It must also be protected from drying winds.

Cultivation

Like many other

s from Japan, ''Anemonopsis'' demands summer moisture, but resents excessively wet conditions in winter. It is thus much more easily grown in

continental climate Continental climates often have a significant annual variation in temperature (warm summers and cold winters). They tend to occur in the middle latitudes (40 to 55 north), within large landmasses where prevailing winds blow overland bringing som ...

of the eastern United States and Canada than in the Mediterranean climate of the Pacific Northwest.

Propagation

''Anemonopsis'' is self-fertile, and an isolated plant will set modest amounts of seed. If sown in containers as soon as ripe and the seed containers exposed to winter chilling, germination will occur the next spring. Unlike some members of the Ranunculaceae, which are notorious for their seeds remaining viable only for a very short time, ''Anemonopsis'' seed retains its viability in storage to a reasonable degree. However, fresh seed is preferable to stored seed. As with many other members of the Ranunculaceae, seedlings of ''Anemonopsis'' form only cotyledons in their first season; the first true leaves form the year after

germination Germination is the process by which an organism grows from a seed or spore. The term is applied to the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm, the growth of a sporeling from a spore, such as the spores of fungi, fer ...

. Seedlings are slow to reach maturity, and flower in about 5 years. They may be more easily handled by growing in pots until they reach a size suitable for planting out. No particular treatment of seed is necessary other than exposure to ordinary winter chilling. ''Anemonopsis'' can also be propagated by division.

References

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External links

''Anemonopsis macrophylla''
photo

: Flavon's art gallery {{Taxonbar, from=Q15938586 Ranunculaceae Ranunculaceae genera Monotypic Ranunculales genera Flora of Japan Endemic flora of Japan