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Anemone hortensis
It is a perennial herbaceous plant with an underground rhizome. It reaches on average 20 - 40 cm of height. The stem is erect and pubescent. The basal leaves have a petiole 5 - 10 cm long and are palmate or “hand-shaped”, with 3 - 5 toothed lobes. The solitary flowers are fragrant and range in color from white-bluish or mauve to red-purple, with a diameter of 3 - 6 cm. They have 12 - 20 lanceolate and acute petals, with numerous bluish or violet stamens and blue anthers. The flowering period extends from March through May. This plant is pollinated by wind or dispersed by animals.
This plant is endemic to Mediterranean basin and it is distributed in France, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Albania, Macedonia and Serbia.
The Genus name “Anemone” comes from the Greek ἄνεμος (anemos, meaning wind ), as an ancient legend tells that the flowers opens only when the wind blows. The Species Latin name “hortensis” (fron “hortus” = vegetable garden) refers to the easiness with this plant can be cultivated. Other names: garden anemone, vrtna šumarica