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thimbleweed
thimbleweed (Anemone cylindrica)
Illinois Status: common, native
Features and Behaviors
FEATURES
Thimbleweed is also known as candle anemone or long-headed thimbleweed. This perennial herb has leaves in a whorled arrangement on the stem. Three to 10 stem leaves are present. Each simple leaf is toothed. The white flowers have no petals, but the five sepals are large and resemble petals. Flowers are borne solitary to a few per stem. The one-seeded fruit is dry and hard. The seed head looks like a thimble, which gave rise to the common name of the plant. Thimbleweed may attain a height of two to three feet.
BEHAVIORS
Thimbleweed may be found in the northern two-thirds of Illinois plus Jackson County. It grows in sand forests, prairies, old fields, roadsides and open woods. Flowers are produced from May through August.
Illinois Range
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Habitats
Woodland Habitats
coniferous forests; upland deciduous forests
Prairie and Edge Habitats
black soil prairie; edge; hill prairie
