Pasque flower

Pasque flower
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Ranunculales Family: Ranunculaceae Genus: Pulsatilla Mill.
Species
Pulsatilla alpina Pulsatilla chinensis Pulsatilla grandis Pulsatilla halleri Pulsatilla montana Pulsatilla nigricans Pulsatilla patens Pulsatilla pratensis Pulsatilla vernalis Pulsatilla vulgaris Pulsatilla subslavica Pulsatilla cernua et al.

A pasque flower (or pasqueflower) is a deciduous perennial that is found in short clumps in meadows and prairies of North America and Eurasia. The genus Pulsatilla includes about 30 species, many of which are valued for their finely-dissected leaves, solitary bell-shaped flowers, and plumed seed heads. The anthers are bright yellow and the purple bell consists of sepals.

In its tallgrass prairie habitat, it is one of the first plants to bloom in the spring, often before the late winter snows have thawed.

Genus

Fruit of Pulsatilla alpina ssp. alpina growing at an altitude of 2000m at Schynige Platte, Switzerland.

This genus is sometimes included as part of genus Anemone as subgenus Pulsatilla, and is also commonly known as the prairie crocus, wind flower, Easter Flower and meadow anemone. It also grows in limestone pastures in central and northern Europe and parts of Russia, and locally in southern England from where the Pasque / Parsk / Pask family takes its name.

Different varieties of the Pasque flower are the floral emblems of various territories. Pulsatilla vulgaris is the county flower for both Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Pulsatilla hirsutissima is the state flower of South Dakota and the provincial flower of Manitoba.

Pasque refers to Easter (Passover) as the flower blooms around that time of year. They are among the first blossoms of spring.

Use and toxicity

Pasque flower is highly toxic, and produces cardiogenic toxins and oxytoxins which slow the heart in humans. Excess use can lead to diarrhoea, vomiting and convulsions,^[1] hypotension and coma.^[2] It has been used as a medicine by Native Americans for centuries. Blackfeet Indians used Pasque Flower to induce abortions and childbirth.^[1] Pulsatilla should not be taken during pregnancy nor during lactation.^[3]

Extracts of Pulsatilla have been used in an effort to treat reproductive problems such as premenstrual syndrome and epididymitis.^[3] Additional applications of plant extracts include uses as a sedative and for treating coughs.^[3] It is used as an initial ingredient in homeopathic preparations,^[3] which don't have toxic effects of other remedies because the ingredients are diluted with water until no molecules of the initial substance can be found in a typical quantity.^[4][5]

Pulsatilla vulgaris

Pulsatilla slavica after blooming

References

• TSN 18797. Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
• Anemone pulsatilla, Wildflowers index, Department of Horticultural Science of NC State University
• Edible and Medicinal plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1
• [1] - Cambridgeshire, UK

External links

• Image of Pulsatilla cernua (Thunb.) Spreng.- Flavon's art gallery

Notes

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pulsatilla

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