Anemone patens var. multifida

Native

Dry to moderate moisture. Prairies, hillsides, bluffs. Full sun.

Late March to May

White sepals, yellow center

4″ to 16″

This is an erect, perennial forb. On young plants it sends up basal leaves and a single flowering stem from a woody taproot. On older plants it sends up basal leaves and multiple flowering stems from an short, branched, ascending or vertical caudex.

There are 3 to 10, but usually 5 to 8, basal leaves. The flowering stem has a whorl of three leaves below the inflorescence. Basal leaves are on leaf stalks that are 2″ to 5″ long though usually no longer than 4″. They are divided into 4 to 6 leaflets. Each leaflet is deeply divided into 2 more or less equal, narrow lobes. The upper surface is sparsely hairy, rarely hairless. The lower surface is densely covered with long, soft, shaggy, but unmatted hairs.

Stem leaves are similar to the basal leaves but are smaller and are attached to the stem without a leak stalk.

The inflorescence is a single flower at the end of a long, stout, stalk. The stalk is densely covered with long, soft, shaggy, but unmatted hairs.

The flowers ar large and showy, up to 3″ across. They have 5 to 7 petal-like sepals. There are no petals. The sepals are white on the upper surface. The lower surface is densely hairy and purple or purplish-white, rarely white. There is a central, elongated, column-like cluster of white or purple styles surrounded by 150 to 200 yellow stamens.

The fruit is a flattened achene with a ¾″ to 1″ long fluffy plume.

This is the first wildflower to bloom in the spring on Minnesota prairies. The weather will determine when the first bloom appears. It has been seen in bloom in southern Minnesota as early as March 31. Dense silky hairs on thw stout stem helpa to trap warm air on cold spring nights. Look for it on south- or west-facing prairie hillsides.

This is the state flower of South Dakota.