Anemone (Anemone) (A-ne-mó-ne, from the
Gr. ??eµ??, wind), is a genus of about 120 species of flowering
plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae in the north and south temperate
zones. They are closely related to Pasque flower (Pulsatilla) and Hepatica
(Hepatica); some botanists include both of these genera within Anemone.
The plants are perennial herbs with an underground rootstock, and radical,
more or less deeply cut, leaves. The elongated flower stem bears one or
several, white, red, blue or rarely yellow, flowers; there is an involucre
of three leaflets below each flower. The fruits often bear long hairy
styles which aid their distribution by the wind ("windflower"
is a common name sometimes used for members of the genus).
The Anemone coronaria ("Kalanit" in Hebrew) is one of the most
well known and beloved flowers in Israel. During the British Mandate of
Palestine British soldiers were nicknamed "Kalaniyot" for their
red berrets.
Cultivation and uses
Many of the species are favourite garden plants; among the best known
is Anemone coronaria, often called the poppy anemone, a tuberous-rooted
plant, with parsley-like divided leaves, and large showy poppy-like blossoms
on stalks of from 15–20 cm high; the flowers are of various colours,
but the principal are scarlet, crimson, blue, purple and white. There
are also double-flowered varieties, in which the stamens in the centre
are replaced by a tuft of narrow petals. It is an old garden favourite,
and of the double forms there are named varieties.
They grow best in a loamy soil, enriched with well-rotted manure, which
should be dug in below the tubers. These may be planted in October, and
for succession in January, the autumn-planted ones being protected by
a covering of leaves or short stable litter. They will flower in May and
June, and when the leaves have ripened should be taken up into a dry room
till planting time. They are easily raised from the seed, and a bed of
the single varieties is a valuable addition to a flower-garden, as it
affords, in a warm situation, an abundance of handsome and often brilliant
spring flowers, almost as early as the snowdrop or crocus.
The genus contains many other spring-flowering plants, of which A. hortensis
and A. fulgens have less divided leaves and splendid rosy-purple or scarlet
flowers; they require similar treatment. Anemone hupehensis, and its white
cultivar 'Honorine Joubert', the latter especially, are amongst the finest
of autumn-flowering hardy perennials; they grow well in light soil, and
reach 60–100 cm in height, blooming continually for several weeks.
A group of dwarf species, represented by the native British A. nemorosa
and A. apennina, are amongst the most beautiful of spring flowers for
planting in woods and shady places.
Meaning
The meaning of the anemone flower is "forsaken" and also "a
dying hope". The flower Anemone could also be used to signify Anticipation.
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