Wood Anemone

Description:

A small spring ephemeral of the the eastern deciduous forest that grows about 5 inches tall. The flower is whitish, sometimes with a pinkish tinge, and about .5-1 inches in diameter. Leaves have three parts.

Habitat:

Eastern deciduous forests in North America. A similar species is found in European forests.

Notes:

This flower and its associated leaves and stems appear before the tree canopy leafs out so the plant can absorb as much energy as possible. By mid-summer the plant has died back to the ground and is difficult to find.