anemones

Anemones are common names for two distinct groups of organisms: sea anemones, marine cnidarians in the order Actiniaria, and flowering plants in the genus Anemone, family Ranunculaceae.

Sea anemones are sessile predatory polyps. Their body is a cylindrical column attached to a substrate by a basal disk, with a central mouth surrounded by radiating tentacles. The tentacles bear specialized stinging cells called nematocysts that immobilize prey, which is then ingested into the gastrovascular cavity. Most sea anemones live on rocky substrates or coral reefs in shallow to moderately deep waters, though some occur in deeper or softer habitats. They feed primarily on small crustaceans and other invertebrates, and a few species selectively prey on fish larvae.

Reproduction in sea anemones can be sexual or asexual. Many species reproduce by budding or fragmentation, producing new individuals from the parent tissue. Sexual reproduction typically involves free-swimming planula larvae. Some anemones form mutualistic relationships with clownfish, which gain protection from predators while providing nutrients through waste; others host photosynthetic algae in their tissues, supplementing their diet.

Flowering anemones are herbaceous perennials valued for spring blossoms. They occur in temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and North America, often in woodland margins and meadows. In cultivation, they are grown for a range of flower colors and forms, and they propagate by underground rhizomes or tubers.

The term anemone, used without qualifier, may refer to either group, but sea anemones and flowering anemones are not closely related beyond the shared name and superficial resemblance.