FLOWER OF THE MONTH - MARCH 2009
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WOOD ANENOME (Anemone nemorosa)
This is another of those heart-lifting flowers of early spring, in bloom from mid-March onwards. The solitary white flowers, on six-inch stalks, are up to an inch across. The stem leaves are in whorls of three, and are much divided; those at the base of the stem appear after the flowers, if at all.
Although very much a woodland plant, it dislikes deep shade and the flowers will open fully only in sunshine. The presence of wood anemones in the countryside is restricted to ancient woodland (usually defined as woodland which has been in existence since at least 1600 AD) or areas where such woodland formerly existed. Any woods within the Parish of Sulgrave are of more recent origin, and it can therefore be assumed that, where wood anemones do occur, they have been introduced by man. In any case they spread very slowly, usually by root growth.
Wood anemones in the spinney adjoining the Green Lane to Weston.
Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service.
Image reproduced by kind permission of Ordnance Survey
and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
Text by George Metcalfe. Photos by Colin Wootton.