Perennial herb to about 20 cm tall with a contorted rhizome. Basal leaves mostly absent. Those leaves immediately below the flowers (to 5 cm down the stem) are stalked and deeply divided. Flowers single, 2-4 cm wide, purplish to blue, white or pink. Perianth segments mostly 10-15; spring. Fruit achenes 1-2 mm long.
Various flower colour cultivars have been produced including 'Charmer', 'Radar' and 'White Splendour'.
SE Europe, W Asia
Leaves below flowers deeply dissected. Anemone apennina is similiar but with more slender brown, non-clustered rhizomes.
Source: (1997). Ranunculaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
