The genusPulsatilla contains about 40 species of herbaceousperennial plants native to meadows and prairies of North America, Europe, and Asia. Derived from the Hebrew word for Passover, "pasakh", the common name pasque flower refers to the Easter (Passover) flowering period, in the spring.[2][3] Common names include pasque flower (or pasqueflower), wind flower, prairie crocus, Easter flower, and meadow anemone. Several species are valued ornamentals because of their finely-dissected leaves, solitary bell-shaped flowers, and plumed seed heads. The showy part of the flower consists of sepals, not petals.
The genus Pulsatilla was first formally named in 1754 by the English botanist Philip Miller. The type species is Pulsatilla vulgaris,[4] the European pasque flower. The genus is placed in the tribe Anemoneae within the family Ranunculaceae. The tribe has been shown repeatedly to be monophyletic in molecular phylogenetic studies, but the number of genera recognized within the tribe and their relationship has varied. Multiple studies have shown that Pulsatilla forms a monophyletic group,[5] but the rank assigned to the group has differed. In one approach, Pulsatilla is treated as a section within a more broadly circumscribedAnemone.[6] In another approach, molecular phylogenetic evidence is used to separate Pulsatilla from Anemone as a separate genus, dividing it into three subgenera.[5] Morphologically, Pulsatilla can be distinguished from Anemone by the long hairy beak on the achenes formed by the persistent style and stamens. Pulsatilla species can also be distinguished by DNA barcoding.[7] As of March 2024[update], many sources, such as Plants of the World Online and the Flora of Korea, support the treatment of Pulsatilla as a distinct genus.[1][8]
Pulsatilla is a toxic plant. Misuse can lead to diarrhea, vomiting and convulsions,[12]hypotension, and coma.[13] It has been used as a medicine by Native Americans for centuries. Blackfoot Indians used it to induce abortions and childbirth. Pulsatilla should not be taken during pregnancy nor during lactation.[14]
Extracts of Pulsatilla have been used to treat reproductive problems such as premenstrual syndrome and epididymitis.[14] Additional applications of plant extracts include uses as a sedative and for treating coughs.[14]
^"Pulsatilla Mill". ipni.org. International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
^ abSramkó, Gábor; Laczkó, Levente; Volkova, Polina A.; Bateman, Richard M. & Mlinarec, Jelena (2019-06-01). "Evolutionary history of the Pasque-flowers (Pulsatilla, Ranunculaceae): Molecular phylogenetics, systematics and rDNA evolution". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 135: 45–61. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2019.02.015. PMID 30831271.
^Li, Qiu-jie; Wang, Xi; Wang, Jun-ru; Su, Na; Zhang, Ling; Ma, Yue-ping; Chang, Zhao-yang; Zhao, Liang & Potter, Daniel (2019-10-09). "Efficient Identification of Pulsatilla (Ranunculaceae) Using DNA Barcodes and Micro-Morphological Characters". Frontiers in Plant Science. 10: 1196. doi:10.3389/fpls.2019.01196. PMC6794950. PMID 31649688.
^Song, Jun-ho & Park, Chong-wook (2017). "13. Pulsatilla Mill.". In Park, Chong-wook; Yeau, Sung Hee; Lee, Hyun-Woo & Lim, Chae Eun (eds.). Flora of Korea Volume 2a Magnoliidae-Ranunculaceae. Flora of Korea Editorial Committee and the National Institute of Biological Resources. pp. 66–69. ISBN 978-89-6811-275-1. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
^Government of Manitoba. "Symbols of Manitoba". Archived from the original on 2005-12-10. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
^Chapter 1 2005 South Dakota Legislative Manual The Mount Rushmore State
^Plantlife website County Flowers page Archived 2015-04-30 at the Wayback Machine
^Edible and Medicinal plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1
^Yarnell, E. and Abascal, K. (2001) Botanical Treatments for Depression: Part 2 - Herbal Corrections for Mood Imbalances
^ abcVaughan, John Griffith; Patricia Ann Judd; David Bellamy (2003). The Oxford Book of Health Foods. Oxford University Press. pp. 127. ISBN 978-0-19-850459-7. pulsatilla.
Anemone pulsatilla, Wildflowers index, Department of Horticultural Science of NC State University
Gregory L. Tilford 1997. Edible and Medicinal plants of the West, Mountain Press Publishing ISBN 0-87842-359-1 preview
[1] - "Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) Local species action plan for Cambridgeshire, 1999"