Narcissus Anemone

J. Jalas (1988), W. Greuter (1989), W. Greuter et al. (1989), J. Jalas and J. Suominen (1989), and T. G. Tutin et al. (1993+, vol. 1) have recently used the name Anemone narcissifolia Linnaeus because they considered Anemone narcissiflora an illegitimate name. B. E. Dutton et al. (1995) recently proposed to conserve the orthography of Anemone narcissiflora , and the authors of this treatment ollow 14A.1 of the Code , which recommends following "existing usage as far as possible pending the General Committee's recommendation on the proposal" (W. Greuter et al. 1994).

The taxonomy of this highly variable, widespread species is extremely controversial. The conservative approach taken here most closely approximates S.L. Welsh's (1974) treatment for the Alaskan varieties. E. Hultén's discussion (1941-1950, vol. 4, pp. 735-736) of local races and the variation within this species, however, clearly illustrates the need for a thorough biosystematic investigation. Recognition of about 12 varieties is in light of S. V. Juzepczuk's (1970) work; however, he elevated local races to specific rank in his treatment.

The Aleuts used Anemone narcissiflora (no varieties specified) medicinally as an antihemorrhagic (D. E. Moerman 1986).

Two subspecies occur in China, while Anemone narcissiflora subsp. narcissiflora is distributed in Europe, subsp. fasciculata (Linnaeus) Ziman & Fedoronczuk in SW Asia (Caucasus), and both subsp. alaskana Hultén and subsp. zephyra (A. Nelson) A. Löve et al. in North America.

Aerial shoots 7-60 cm, from caudices, caudices ascending to vertical. Basal leaves 3-10, ternate; petiole (2-)4-20 cm; terminal leaflet ±sessile, obtriangular to oblanceolate, (2.5-)3-6(-9) × 2-10 cm, base narrowly cuneate to cuneate, margins incised (sometimes with few serrate teeth) on distal 1/3, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces glabrous or puberulous to villous or pilose; lateral leaflets 1-3×-parted and -lobed; ultimate lobes 3-10 mm wide. Inflorescences 2-8-flowered umbels or flowers solitary; peduncle puberulous to villous or pilose to nearly glabrous; involucral bracts (2-)3, 1-tiered, simple, greatly reduced, otherwise similar to basal leaves, obtriangular, distally 3-cleft and pinnatifid, (1-)1.5-5(-5.5) cm, bases clasping, ±connate, margins incised on distal 1/3, apex acuminate-acute to obtuse, surfaces glabrous or puberulous to villous or pilose; segments primarily 3, subulate or narrowly obtriangular; lateral segments unlobed or 2-3×-parted and -lobed; ultimate lobes 3-10 mm wide. Flowers: sepals 5-9, white or yellow, or abaxially white, tinged blue, white, or blue, and adaxially white, ovate to rhombic or obovate, 8-20 × 5-13(-15) mm, glabrous; stamens 40-80(-100). Heads of achenes spheric; pedicel (4.5-)5-14(-18.5) cm. Achenes: body ellipsoid to ovate, flat, 5-9 × (3-)4-6 mm, winged, glabrous; beak curved to recurved, 0.8-1.5 mm, glabrous. 2 n =14.

Leaves 4--9; petiole 5--30 cm, villous or pubescent; leaf blade 3-sect, pentagonal, suborbicular, or orbicular-ovate, 3--7 × 4--12 cm, sparsely pubescent, villous, or subglabrous, margin ciliate; segments petiolulate or subsessile; central segment 3-parted to 3-cleft, rhombic-ovate or broadly rhombic, ultimate lobules ovate to linear; lateral segments unequally 2- or 3-parted, obliquely flabellate. Scapes 1 or 2, 10--50 cm, villous or sparsely puberulent; cyme 1--5(--7)-flowered. Involucral bracts 3 or more; bract blade 3-parted to 3-cleft, broadly rhombic to narrowly obovate, 2--6 cm, usually pubescent. Pedicel 2--5(--8) cm, pubescent. Sepals 5 or 6(or 7), white or yellowish, rarely pinkish, obovate, 12--18 × 6--10 mm, pilose, sparsely puberulent, subglabrous, or glabrous, basal veins 3--9, vein anastomoses 1--3(--5) or absent, base attenuate, apex rounded. Stamens 2--5 mm; filament usually linear, rarely slightly dilated; anther cylindric. Ovary subglobose, compressed, distinctly laterally winged, usually glabrous; style bent, short. Achene body obovoid, 5--8 × 4--6 mm, glabrous, rarely with solitary hairs; wings 0.8--1.4 mm wide; style hooked, 0.8--1.4 mm. Fl. May--Jul.

N Hebei, W Nei Mongol, NW Ningxia, Xinjiang, W Yunnan [Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, N Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia (Siberia), Tajikistan; SW Asia, Europe, North America].

Picea forests, bamboo thickets on slopes, scrub, alpine meadows, grassy slopes; 1800--4000 m.