False Rue Anemone
( Enemion biternatum ) Bloom Time: Spring (April – May) Location: prefers deciduous woodland, particularly mesic or riparian areas. Found primarily in the south and east of Minnesota (general). Grows in dense mats of hundreds of blooms on the slopes along Spring Creek and a bit more sparsely in Best Woods (Arb). Family: Buttercup (Ranunculaceae) Physical Description: flowers are small, only ½ to ¾ in. across, and possess five white petals and a collection of radiating stamens that somewhat resemble a pincushion. Leaflets have three lobes and are clustered in threes. Basal leaves have long, redish stalks. After the bloom has passed, a star-shaped seed capsule will emerge. Grows to be 8-16 in. tall. Often confused with Wood Anemone ( Anemone quinquefolia ) and Rue Anemone ( Thalictrum thalictroides ). These two can have more than five sepals (petals) while E. biternatum only ever has five. If a fall season is wet and warm enough, False Rue Anemone will occasionally bloom again.