Anemone drummondii var. lithophila S. Watson (Rydb.) C.L. Hitchc.
alpine anemone
Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Allan Carson     (Photo ID #17711)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Anemone drummondii var. lithophila
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a branching woody stem-base; stems erect, 10-30 cm tall, stiff-hairy.
Leaves:
Basal, 5 to 15, ascending, 3- or 4-times 3-parted, sometimes irregularly so, the ultimate segments linear, 1-2.5 mm wide, long-hairy; stalks 2-10 cm long.
Flowers:
Inflorescence 1- (2-) flowered, terminal; flower stalks long soft-hairy; involucral bracts 3 (-4), 1-tiered, leaf-like, similar to basal leaves but short-stalked; petals absent; sepals usually 6 to 9, petal-like, all white or white tinged with blue on outside, narrowly egg-shaped, 8-20 mm long, 6-10 mm wide, hairy on outside, smooth inside; stamens 80-100, whitish.
Fruits:
Achenes, numerous in a spheric head, rarely cylindric, on stalks 3-10 cm long, the achenes egg-shaped, 2-4 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, not winged, silky-hairy; beaks straight, 2-4 (6) mm long, smooth.
Notes:
Two varieties occur in BC:

1. Ultimate leaf segments mostly 1.5-2.5 mm wide; beaks 2-2.5 mm long................. var. lithophila (Rydb.) C.L. Hitchc.

1. Ultimate leaf segments mostly 1-1.5(2) mm wide; beaks mostly 2-4 (6) mm long................. var. drummondii

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Anemone drummondii var. lithophila

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
2155 1280 2610
Slope Gradient (%)
46 5 85

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

177 45 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
3 2 5
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
43
Modal BEC Zone Class
AT

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

AT(7), ESSF(5), IMA(2)

Habitat and Range

Mesic to dry meadows, rock outcrops and scree slopes in the subalpine and alpine zones; rare in SW BC (var. drummondii), common in SE BC, infrequent elsewhere E of the Coast-Cascade Mountains (var. lithophila); N to AK, YT and NT, E to AB and S to WY (var. lithophila), S to CA, disjunct in C ID (var. drummondii).

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Anemone lithophila Rydb.