Penny Perspectives - Anemone Lyallii

Day 208: Tiny Anemone lyallii (Lyall's Anemone) is relatively uncommon in Mount Rainier National Park, and it is often overlooked because of its size, which this Penny Perspective clearly demonstrates. It can be distinguished from similar A. deltoides by the leaf arrangement (three "threes" in the case of A. lyallii and only one set of three in A. deltoides). A third species (Anemone oregana) is larger, although small specimens can be confused with A. lyallii. The distinction between the two is most easily made when the plants are in bloom. Oregon Anemone has 35 or more stamens, Lyall's less than 35. Lyall's may also be listed as Western Wood Anemone in some field guides.

Anemone Lyallii And Friend

Day 225: Anemone lyallii (Lyall's Anemone) was thought to be relatively uncommon in the Park until Team Biota discovered two healthy populations in two widely separated locations. It is distinguished in the field from its cousin Anemone oregana by a slightly different leaf structure and by the number of stamens in its flower (A. oregana has 35-100 as opposed to lyallii's 12-20). The flower can be white, blue or pink. Although oregana is larger than lyallii, both are significantly smaller than the familiar Western Anemone (A. occidentalis). Lyallii is the smallest of the three, standing only a few inches high.