# wood anemone (*Anemonoides quinquefolia*) The wood anemone is a lovely flower that blooms in spring. It has delicate white petals that look like little stars and grows in shady forests, making them a beautiful sight to see. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 42 - **Habitat:** Forests ![wood anemone](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425868/objects/357.jpg) ## Appearance The wood anemone has delicate, solitary white flowers, sometimes tinged pink or purple, with a cluster of bright yellow stamens in the center. Its petals (actually sepals) are usually five to eight, creating a star-like shape above lobed, green leaves, making it distinct from many spring blooms. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Ranunculaceae - **Genus:** Anemone ## Interesting facts - Its scientific name, Anemonoides, means 'like an anemone,' hinting at its delicate beauty! - The leaves of the wood anemone are divided into three parts, like tiny green shamrocks! - They often close their delicate petals at night or when it rains, keeping their pollen safe and dry! - Wood anemones can live for hundreds of years, spreading slowly through a forest! ## Special abilities - **Underground Explorer:** Wood anemone can spread widely using underground stems called rhizomes, helping it form large colonies and find new spots to grow. - **Early Bird Bloomer:** It has adapted to bloom very early in spring, capturing sunlight before the trees grow their leaves and shade the forest floor. - **Clever Seed Dispersal:** The wood anemone produces seeds that ants love! Ants carry the seeds away, helping the plant spread to new places in the forest. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-25 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early spring to early summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Pollinates:** [bumblebee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bumblebee) (*Bombus terrestris*) — Helps carry pollen between plants. - **Eaten by:** [black slug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Sometimes munches on leaves and flowers. - **Eaten by:** [white-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — May browse on the early spring foliage. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not touch or eat wild flowers without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify wood anemone? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is wood anemone? 10-25 cm ### How big are the flowers on wood anemone? 2-4 cm ### When does wood anemone bloom? Early spring to early summer ### Is wood anemone edible? No ### Is wood anemone toxic? Mild ### What is wood anemone's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is wood anemone pollinated? Insect ## Where to spot - [Belltown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belltown-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Brett Woods Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brett-woods-open-space) — Connecticut, US · Park - [Chesterfield Gorge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chesterfield-gorge) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Gensburg-Markham Prairie](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gensburg-markham-prairie) — Illinois, US · Nature Reserve - [Green Animals Topiary Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/green-animals-topiary-garden) — Rhode Island, US · Botanical Garden - [Harraseeket Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/harraseeket-historic-district) — Maine, US · Historic District [View all places to see wood anemone](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/wood-anemone) ## Watch - [Play video: wood anemone](https://www.snappit.app/videos/wood-anemone) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=Yovd7-mAOu8) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Wood Anemone: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wood-anemone)