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Practical ecological knowledge for the temperate reader. |
Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family) [E-flora]
"Perennial herb from caudex, rhizome, or tuber. Leaf: basal, generally many, simple to compound, generally petioled; blade or leaflets lobed to dissected or not, margins entire or toothed; in flower or fruit withered or not. Inflorescence: terminal, flowers 1 or 2–7[9] in cymes; peduncle erect; pedicel elongated in fruit; involucre bracts sessile or stalked, generally in 1–2 whorls of 2–5[9], simple to compound, ± like leaves or leaflets in size, shape. Flower: receptacle elongated in fruit; sepals 5–10[27], petal-like; petals generally 0; stamens 10–200; pistils many, styles persistent as beaks. Fruit: achene.
+/- 150 species: arctic, temperate worldwide; some cultivated for ornamental. (Greek: flower shaken by wind) [Dutton et al. 1997 FNANM 3:139–155] Species with long, plumose styles sometimes placed in Pulsatilla.
Unabridged references: [Hoot et al. 1994 Syst Bot 19:169–200]" [Jepson]
Local Species;
Hazards
"There are a variety of herbal uses in traditional medicine for protoanemonin - containing species including Anemone and Pulsatilla species. The most common use by Native American peoples for these plants was as a counter - irritant in the form of an external poultice for abrasions, boils, cuts, and skin sores.1 Other traditional uses for extracts from these plants included rheumatism, stomach troubles, and promoting childbirth. The Teton Sioux Indians also used extracts from Clematis hirsutissima Pursh (sugarbowls, hairy clematis) to stimulate horses by inserting the scraped root from C. hirsutissima into the nostril of the horse.2" [TNS]
Medicinal Use
Anemone sp., "Buttercup Drug-Cowlitz Tuberculosis Remedy Infusion of plants taken for tuberculosis. (79:29) Ojibwa, South Analgesic Snuff of powdered, dry leaves used as an errhine for headache. (91:200)" [NAEth Moerman]
"In 1933 ethnobotanist Huron Smith reported that the Eclectic practitioners, a group of college-trained physicians whose practices were based on a wide variety of techniques, used most species of the Anemone interchangeably for many ailments. "Included in these ailments are: cataract, paralysis, rheumatism, melancholia, syphilis, dysmenorrhea, and many other morbid conditions." Smith, however, had previously questioned its effectiveness (Smith, 1933, p. 383; Smith, 1928, p. 238)." [MedWildPOTP]
Actions
Anemone sp.-
Poison* Lewis; Tumor(Skin) Hartwell [DukePhyto]
Anemone nemorosa - Wood Anemone
"Anemone caffra Harv. (Ranunculaceae). Anemone. In parts of southern Africa, smoke of smoldering roots was inhaled to treat colds and headaches (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk 1962)."[UAPDS]
"Anemone fanninii Harv. (Ranunculaceae). giant wild anemone. Like Anemone caff ra Harv., the smoke of smoldering roots was used for treating colds and headaches in parts of southern Africa (Watt and Breyer-Brandwijk 1962)."[UAPDS]
"Anemone obtusiloba D. Don. (Ranunculaceae). Himalayan blue buttercup. In the Sikkim Himalayas of India, the roots, which some consider poisonous, were burned for incense purposes (Pandey 1991)."[UAPDS]
Anemonella thalictroides - Rue Anemone "This delicate spring flower is found from New Hampshire to Minnesota, south to Florida, Tennessee, and Kansas. The starchy tuberous roots are edible when cooked. I know of mountainous districts in Pennsylvania where these roots are collected and eaten under the name of "wild potato." The plant should be protected." [EWP]
"Anemone virginiana L. (Ranunculaceae). tall anemone. The Meskwaki of North America burned the seeds to produce smoke to treat catarrh and to revive unconscious people (Smith 1928; Vogel 1970). The smoke was directed up the nose of the patient using a special cone."[UAPDS]
"Anemone vitifolia Buch.-Ham. ex DC. (Ranunculaceae). Scarborough anemone. The entire plant was burned for incense purposes in the Manang District of Nepal (Pohle 1990)."[UAPDS]
Anemone multifida Poir., Pacific Anemone
Cultivation
Anemone spp.
"Days to Germination: 21 to 28 days at 700F to 750F (21 0C to 24 0C) Prechilling aids germination" [NSSH Bubel]
"Growing Conditions: Both types of anemones need shelter from strong winds, and fertile, humus-rich soil. They like afternoon shade in warm climates. Space plants 8 to 12 inches apart." [NSSH Bubel]
Subtaxa Present in B.C.;
"General: Perennial herb from a branching woody stem-base; stems erect, 10-30 cm tall, stiff-hairy." [IFBC-E-flora]
Notes: Two varieties occur in BC:
Habitat/Range: "Mesic to dry meadows, rock outcrops and scree slopes in the subalpine and alpine zones; rare in SW BC (var. drummondii), common in SE BC, infrequent elsewhere E of the Coast-Cascade Mountains (var. lithophila); N to AK, YT and NT, E to AB and S to WY (var. lithophila), S to CA, disjunct in C ID (var. drummondii)." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Native [E-flora]
References
"General: Perennial herb from a horizontal, pale, scaly rhizome; stems slender, erect, 5-30 cm tall, minutely hairy to smooth." [IFBC-E-flora]
Habitat/Range: "Moist meadows, thickets and forests in the lowland, montane and subalpine zones; infrequent in SW BC, disjunct in WC BC; S to N CA." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Native [E-flora]
Synonyms:
References
Subtaxa present in B.C.
"General: Perennial herb from a woody stem-base; stems 1 to many, erect, 10-60 cm tall, sparsely to abundantly hairy" [IFBC-E-flora]
Habitat/Range: "Mesic to dry grasslands, shrublands, open forests, rock outcrops and meadows in the lowland to subalpine zones; common throughout BC; N to AK, YT and NT, E to NF and S to NY, ME, NE, NM, NV and N CA, disjunct in S America." [IFBC-E-flora]
Medicinal
Anemone globosa Nutt. (A. multifida Poir.),
"Southern Carrier: Plant, except roots, boiled and decoction taken internally for any sickness. Aroma of crushed leaves inhaled for cold in the head or lungs; for this purpose leaves sometimes placed in water and heated."
"Gitksan : Handfuls eaten in sweat bath for rheumatism. A decoction of the plant sometimes used for the same purpose."[????]
Anemone multifida - Ache(Head) and Fumitory [DukePhyto]
Synonyms
References
"Anemone narcissiflora is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in). It is hardy to zone (UK) 3. It is in flower in May, and the seeds ripen from Jun to July. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies, self.The plant is self-fertile." [PFAF]
"Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil".[PFAF]
Subtaxa Present in B.C.;
"General: Perennial herb from a woody stem-base; stems erect, 7-60 cm tall; commonly hairy." [IFBC-E-flora]
Habitat/Range: "Moist to mesic meadows, heath, rocky slopes, shrublands and forest openings in the subalpine and alpine zones; common in N BC and along the coast from Brooks Peninsula northward; circumboreal, N to AK, YT and NT." [IFBC-E-flora]
Caution"Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, many members of this genus contain protoanemonin, an irritating acrid oil that is an enzymatic breakdown product of the glycoside ranunculin. While protoanemonin can cause severe topical and gastrointestinal irritation, it is unstable and changes into harmless anemonin when plants are dried or heated[4, 10, 19, 65, 270]." [PFAF]
Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Anemone narcissiflora (Ranunculaceae) BETULINIC-ACID Plant: JAD [DukePhyto]
"Succeeds in ordinary garden soil but prefers a rich sandy loam[1] and full sun[200]. Succeeds in full sun or part shade[187]. Plants succeed in maritime gardens[233]. Hardy to about -20°c[187]. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[54]. A very ornamental[1] and highly polymorphic plant[50, 187, 270]. There are a large number of sub-species[270]." [PFAF]
"Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the summer[1]. Surface sow or only just cover the seed and keep the soil moist. Sow stored seed as soon as possible in late winter or early spring. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 6 months at 15°c[133]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least their first year. When the plants are large enough, plant them out in the spring. Division in late summer after the plant dies down. This plant is very slow to increase[187]." [PFAF]
"General: Perennial herb from a short woody stem-base on widespread, slender, horizontal rhizomes; stems erect, 5-30 cm tall; nearly smooth to densely soft-hairy." [IFBC-E-flora]
Habitat/Range: "Moist meadows, heath, seepage sites, snowbeds, scree, tundra, thickets, streambanks and forest openings from the montane to the alpine zones; frequent throughout BC; N to AK, YT and NT, E to NF and S to ID, CO and NE OR." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Native [E-flora]
Medicinal Use
"Anemone parviflora Michx. (pepperplant). Formerly, leaves were ground, then boiled in water to make a peppery-tasting tea used for tuberculosis. (Nos. 835, 875)" [Ethftyukon]
References