As soon as buds begin to swell on deciduous trees, under their branches, as well as on the edges of spruce forests, very tender plants with beautiful snow-white small flowers wake up after a long winter. This is the oak anemone blooming, which is also called the anemone. It is considered the very first herald of the approaching spring. Its flowering is completed by the beginning of summer: at the time when warm spring days are established, and the trees are abundantly covered with leaves, that part of the plant that is above the ground dies off. Oak anemone is a wild plant. What does it represent? Description and photos are presented in this article.
Legend
Very often among people one can hear the following legend: at the time when Adam and Eve were expelled from Paradise, they were sent after punishment in the form of huge flakes of snow, which plentifully sprinkled them. When from chills anddespondency, Eve began to weep bitterly, God took pity on the exiles and turned the falling snow into flowers of anemone oak.
Other names
The name of this plant in Latin is Anemone nemorosa, which means "daughter of the winds". And in fact, even with the slightest breath of breeze, the plant begins to sway. The anemone has several other popular names:
- Freckles. This name was published in the book "Healing Herbs" by the Belarusian writer, public figure - Zoska Veras.
- Kuroslep. Has such a name because of the toxic effects.
- Kapelka. They are called because of the similarity of the leaves of the plant with hemp.
- Buttercup. They are called so due to the fact that anemone, like all plants of the ranunculus family, contains anemonin.
- Snowdrop. These two types of plants have an external resemblance to each other.
Description
Belongs to the buttercup family. Oak anemone is a herbaceous plant for open ground. The stem of the anemone is erect, slightly pubescent, grows up to 15-25 centimeters. A rhizome with a smooth surface is located horizontally. The leaves are divided into three parts, outwardly very similar to hemp leaves, the leaf arrangement is regular. Flower petals can be white, pale pink or, much less often, lilac. According to the description of the oak anemone, the bud usually consists of six petals, but their number can reach up to 7-8, the flower diameter is 20-30 mm.
Own floweringanemone starts in April and ends at the end of May. A little later, in June, a fruit is formed with a large number of seeds that are in the middle of the flower, in the seed box. Sepals in this plant species are absent, which is why the delicate petals sway even with the slightest breath of breeze. According to flower growers, thanks to this feature, the oak anemone got its name.
Types of anemones
Currently, there are several of the most popular species of this plant. All of them have only small differences among themselves: they are distinguished by shades of colors and size. Due to the fact that they contain anemole oil, they are all poisonous. Consider the most popular types:
- Altai. It grows in the Siberian region. It has many common characteristics with the oak forest. It blooms in late April, the flower is distinguished by the presence of a large number of narrow petals.
- Blue. A beautiful, showy flower of thin shape, grows no more than 20 cm. Blue flowers in diameter no more than one and a half centimeters, they are collected in inflorescences. Distribution zone - Siberian forests.
- Oakwood. Up to 25 cm high. It has white flowers. It grows in the middle part of Russia, in the park area. Grown in household plots.
- Little. It grows up to 25 cm, the petals are bright yellow in the amount of 5 pieces. Flowering begins in May. Widely distributed throughout Russia. Grown in park areas and garden plots.
- Delicate. In this speciesplants thickened short rhizome. It is the smallest of all species - no more than 15 cm tall. Blue flowers are collected from five petals. Growing in the Caucasus.
- Intermediate. Hybrid of oak anemone and buttercup. This species was obtained as a result of self-pollination of two species growing side by side. They have similar symptoms. Can be either white or yellow.
Habitat
Most often this forest beauty can be seen in deciduous forests - it is there that the most favorable conditions for its growth: fertile loose soil, a lot of darkened space. From the presented photo of the oak anemone, it is clearly seen that most often it grows in groups, forming extensive thickets. Propagated in two ways: with the help of seeds, and due to root shoots.
Anemone in gardening
Experienced gardeners grow this plant as an early flowering perennial. It is not demanding on the conditions of care, it is only necessary to carefully select a landing site. It works best in fertile, alkaline soil. As for lighting, the anemone should be planted in places well lit by the sun. With proper care, favorable conditions, flowering can occur as early as the third year after planting. It is planted to decorate garden paths, lawns and various flower beds. Currently, more than two dozen of the most diverse varieties of oak anemone have been bred. The following varieties are most popular in horticulture:
- Dark Leaf. Varietysmall white flowers and dark brown, almost black leaves.
- Blue Eyes. In our country, a terry white variety was brought from New England. In the center, the color of the flower is pale blue, closer to the edges of the petal it gradually turns into milky white.
- Hilda. Belongs to a semi-double variety, the inflorescence consists of two rows of snow-white very dense petals.
- Vestal. Hustomahrovye flowers with a pompom in the middle. Late flowering variety.
- Birka. The main difference of this variety is the disheveled shape of the petals, the edges of which are colored purple.
- Blue Bonnet. Differs in abundant flowering, the color of the flower is a silver-blue hue. A stunted plant.
- Isabell. One of the most popular ornamental varieties. A distinctive feature is the color of the petals from the inside in purple.
On the brink of extinction
Oak anemone grows in oak forests, which are located in the European part of Russia. Currently, there is a reduction in oak groves, so this type of plant is also disappearing. Another reason for the disappearance of this plant is the increased interest of people in it. Without thinking at all, they pluck large armfuls of these amazingly delicate flowers, often along with the root system. It should be noted that the first flowering of this plant occurs only in the tenth year of life.
Oak anemone in the Red Book
Ontoday this plant is quite rare, protected by the state, and in a number of areas it is listed in the Red Book. Note area data:
- Bryansk;
- Belgorod;
- Vologda;
- Vladimirskaya;
- Moscow;
- Murmanskaya;
- Novgorod;
- Orlovskaya;
- Smolenskaya;
- Tula;
- Yaroslavskaya.
Besides, the Stavropol Territory and Mari El should be noted.
In order to preserve this fragile crop with a lot of useful properties, it is first necessary to prohibit mass gathering in places of natural growth, and its cultivation should also be increased.
Healing properties
Due to the fact that the plant contains substances such as anemonal, vitamin C, tannin, organic acids, saponin, alkaloids, anemone has a wide range of healing properties:
- Antifungal - destroys various fungal formations.
- Painkiller - lowers the pain threshold for painful sensations.
- Expectorant - quickly removes phlegm, while reducing its viscosity.
- Bactericidal - able to neutralize pathogens of any infectious diseases.
- Sweatshop - helps to remove s alts and toxins from the body.
Use
Oak anemone - a plant with a lot of healing properties. Therefore, it is often used in the manufacture of drugs for eczema, dermatitis, gout, migraine, rheumatism,festering wounds, sexual weakness. But you must remember that the plant is poisonous! Therefore, you can use tinctures only after consulting a doctor and in small quantities.
