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Smoky Mountains Wildflowers: Wood Anemone

Smoky Mountains Wildflowers: Wood Anemone
Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia)
Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) © William Britten use with permission only

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) is a Smoky Mountains wildflower that is fairly common in moist woodlands, blooming in early April. The photos above and below were taken in the White Oak Sinks area of the Smokies. This species puts out a single blossom, which is often tinged with pink as above. The flower has little nectar to attract pollinators, but lots of pollen. At night or on rainy days you may find the blossom closed to protect the interior reproductive system.

This species is easy to differentiate from Rue Anemone by it’s leaves.  Rue has a distinctive mitten-like leaf, while the Wood Anemone usually has a cluster of three (sometimes five) basal leaves. It also has a just a single flower, while Rue has from one to five.

All of the Anemones are named for the Greek God of the winds, Anemos. They have a habit of waving in the breeze (don’t all wildflowers?) and are sometimes called windflowers.

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia)
Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia) © William Britten use with permission only

I’d love to have you stop in for a visit at the William Britten Gallery in Gatlinburg to see my complete collection of Smoky Mountains photos.

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