Читать книгу North American Wild Flowers - Agnes Dunbar Chamberlin - Страница 8
ОглавлениеNat. Ord. Ranunculaceæ.
“Within the wood,
Whose young and half transparent leaves,
Scarce cast a shade; gay circles of anemones,
Danced on their stalks.”
Bryant.
HE classical name Anemone is derived from a Greek word, which signifies the wind, because it was thought that the flower opened out its blossoms only when the wind was blowing. Whatever the habits of the Anemone of the Grecian Isles may be, assuredly in their native haunts in this country, the blossoms open alike in windy weather or in calm; in shade or in sunshine. It is more likely that the wind acting upon the downy seeds of some species and dispersing them abroad, has been the origin of the idea, and has given birth to the popular name which poets have made familiar to the ear with many sweet lines. Bryant, who is the American poet of nature, for he seems to revel in all that is fair among the flowers and streams and rocks and forest shades, has also given the name of “wind flower” to the blue hepatica.
The subject of our plate, the little white pink-edged flower at the left hand corner of the group, is Anemone nemorosa, the smaller “Wood Anemone.”
This pretty delicate species loves the moderate shade of groves and thickets, it is often found in open pinelands of second growth, and evidently prefers a light and somewhat sandy soil to any other, with glimpses of sunshine stealing down upon it.
The Wood Anemone is from 4 to 9 inches in height, but seldom taller, the five rounded sepals which form the flower are white, tinged with a purplish-red or dull pink on the outside. The leaves are three parted, divided again in three, toothed and sharply cut and somewhat coarse in texture; the three upper stem leaves form an involucre about midway between the root and the flower-cup.
Our Wood Anemone is a cheerful little flower gladdening us with its blossoms early in the month of May. It is very abundant in the neighbourhood of Toronto, on the grassy banks and piny-dells at Dover Court, and elsewhere.
“There thickly strewn in woodland bowers,
Anemones their stars unfold.”
A somewhat taller species, with very white starry flowers, is found on gravelly banks under the shade of shrubs near the small lakes formed by the Otonabee river, N. Douro, where also, we find the downy seeded species known as “Thimble-weed,” Anemone cylindrica, from the cylindrical heads of fruit. The “Thimble-weed” is not very attractive for beauty of colour; the flower is greenish-white, small, two of the sepals being shorter and less conspicuous than the others; the plant is from 1 to 2 ft. high; the leaves of the cut and pointed involucre are coarse, of a dull green, surrounding the several long flower-stalks. The soft cottony seeds remain in close heads through the winter, till the spring breezes disperse them.
The largest species of our native Anemones is A. Virginiana, “Tall Anemone.” This handsome plant loves the shores of lakes and streams; damp rich ground suits it well, as it grows freely in such soil, and under moderate shade when transferred to the garden.
The foliage of the tall Anemone is coarse, growing in whorls round the stem, divisions of the leaf three parted, sharply pointed and toothed. In this, as in all the species, the coloured sepals, (or calyx leaves) form the flower. The outer surface of the flower is covered with minute silky hairs, the round flattened silky buds rise singly on tall naked stems, the upper series are supplied with two small leaflets embracing the stalk. The central and largest flowers open first, the lateral or outer ones as these fade away; thus a succession of blossoms is produced, which continue to bloom for several weeks. The flowers of this sort, under cultivation, become larger and handsomer than in their wild state, ivory white, tinged with purple. The Anemone is always a favourite flower wherever it may be seen, whether in British woods, on Alpine heights, or in Canadian wilds; on banks of lonely lakes and forest streams; or in the garden parterre, where it is rivalled by few other flowers in grace of form or splendour of colour.
