Nine-segment irises

Nine-segment irises

　　Alpine anemone, also known as: chrysanthemum-shaped double vase plum.

　　A perennial herb. The rhizome is brownish-yellow with numerous fine roots and scale scars. The stem is erect, reaching 8–26 cm in height. The basal leaves are biternate compound leaves, with petioles about 13 cm long; the leaflets are oblong to obovate, tapering to a point, usually with the middle leaflet being larger and having a short petiole. Each leaflet occasionally has three deep lobes or notches and coarse serrations, with sparse white soft hairs on both sides or the hairs falling early. The flower stem is slender, much taller than the basal leaves, bearing a single terminal flower. About one-quarter from the top, there are three bracts arranged in a biternate pattern. The sepals are petal-like, numbering 8–12, oblong, about 1.3 cm long and about 4 mm wide, white or pale purple. There are numerous stamens with oval anthers and thread-like filaments. The pistils are numerous, separate, and spirally arranged, covered with short white hairs. The achenes are ovoid or crescent-shaped, about 0.4 cm long, grayish-brown, densely covered with white soft hairs, and often retain the persistent style. There is one seed per fruit. Flowering period is from April to June.