Anemone richardsonii
| Anemone richardsonii | |
|---|---|
 | |
| The yellow flower of Anemone richardsonii, showing above-ground stem and sessile leaves | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Ranunculaceae |
| Genus: | Anemone |
| Species: | A. richardsonii |
| Binomial name | |
| Anemone richardsonii Richard Hooker[1] | |
Anemone richardsonii, commonly known as yellow thimbleweed, is named after a Scottish naturalist, Sir John Richardson (1787–1865) who found it on Franklin’s expedition to the Arctic.[2] It is a perennial, deciduous plant that blooms in mid to early June.[2]
Description
Yellow thimbleweed is recognized by its small single yellow flowers. These flowers are considered perfect, which means they have both male and female reproductive organs.[2] The flower lacks petals but has yellow sepals that act as petals and it has a superior ovary.[2] The flower sits on a stem that can grow about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) high, and is pubescent (covered with tiny hairs).[2]
Anemone richardsonii has rhizomes (underground stems) which are thread-like with stalked leaves that are palmately lobed.[2] It also has stem leaves that are 3-parted and sharply toothed in a whorled arrangement below the flowers.[2]
The flower develops into an achene (a dry fruit), which is generally small, 3–4 millimetres (0.12–0.16 in) long.[2] It is sub-spherical (nearly round), lacks hairs, and is hooked at the tip.[2] The fruit of the yellow thimbleweed is dispersed by wind and has a style that aids in flight.[2]
Habitat
Anemone richardsonii prefers subarctic climates and can be found in willow thickets, snow patches, along streams, near peat and mosses, and in moist areas with low drainage.[3] It is capable of growing under a wide range of soil pH.[3]
Range
Yellow thimbleweed can be found throughout most of Canada, including the Northwest Territories, Yukon, northern Quebec, Labrador, the Nunavut Islands, Melville Island, and Victoria Island Canada, as well as in west Greenland and Alaska (U.S.A.).[3][4]
Importance to ecosystems
A. richardsonii’s flowers produce much pollen, which attracts some insect pollinators, but they do not produce much nectar; the plant is not generally eaten by vertebrates.[2]
Importance to humans
A. richardsonii contains antibiotics, mainly anemonin and protoanemonin, which actively fight against most common bacteria.[2] It can also be used to soothe abrasions, toothaches, rheumatism and as well as depression.[2] The roots have been boiled traditionally and used as an ineffective treatment for paralysis.[2] Also, the smoke from burned cotton of the ripe seeds was inhaled to relieve headaches.[2]
Conservation
In British Columbia, A. richardsonii is abundant, secure and widespread;[5] this seems to reflect the status of the species throughout North America, as it is not listed in any vulnerable categories by COSEWIC in Canada or by the United States Department of Agriculture.[4][5]
References
- ↑ ITIS. "ITIS Standard Report Page: Anemone Richardsonii". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 CYSIP. "Central Yukon Species Inventory Project". Friends of Dempster County. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
- 1 2 3 Aiken, S.G. (1999). Flora of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago – Anemone richardsonii Hooker. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Museum of Nature.
- 1 2 USDA, Natural Resource Conservation Service. "Plants Profile: Anemone richardsonii Hook. yellow thimbleweed". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
- 1 2 EAPBC. "E-Flora BC Vascular Plant Atlas". University of British Columbia. Retrieved October 22, 2011.