TEN-PETAL ANEMONE

Anemone heterophylla
Crowfoot Family (Ranunculaceae)

These are early birds, blooming from February to March. There is another flower called Carolina anemone that looks very much like this one, except the center is not as long. Some people call these Wind Flowers.

Several species of anemones grow in Texas, including ten-petal anemone, which is also called Granny's night-cap and windflower, A classical myth connects the creation of this flower with the west wind: A beautiful nymph named Anemone lived at the court of Flora, the goddess of flowers, and Flora's husband, Zephyr, the West Wind. When Flora realized the Zephyr and Anemone had fallen in love, she banished the nymph from the court. Heartbroken, Anemone died of her sadness, but Zephyr persuaded Venus to change her body into a flower that would come back to life each year with the return of spring.