Anemone

Anemone is a common name for two groups of organisms. Sea anemones are marine cnidarians of the order Actiniaria, while the genus Anemone comprises herbaceous perennials in the Ranunculaceae family, known as windflowers. The name derives from the Greek anemos, meaning wind.

Sea anemones are soft-bodied, sessile polyps that attach to substrates by a basal disc and extend a crown of tentacles around a central mouth, armed with stinging cells called nematocysts for prey capture. They occur in oceans worldwide, from shallow tide pools to deep waters, and feed on small invertebrates and zooplankton. Some species host photosynthetic algae, and many form mutualistic relationships with clownfish, which gain protection while the anemone may receive scraps and improved water circulation. Reproduction is variable, with sexual spawning as well as asexual methods such as budding, fission, or pedal laceration.

The genus Anemone includes flowering perennials native to temperate regions of Europe and Asia and widely grown in gardens. They typically grow from fleshy roots or rhizomes and bloom in spring with colors such as white, pink, red, and purple. Cultivation favors moist, well-drained soil, partial shade, and a sheltered position; many species are propagated by division or seed, and cultivars are popular in seasonal borders and woodland gardens.

The etymology traces to Greek anemos meaning wind, a reference often linked to their springtime emergence and delicate floral forms.