Pulsatilla

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Pulsatilla
Pasque Flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) (17022184800).jpg
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Ranunculaceae
Subfamily: Ranunculoideae
Tribe: Anemoneae
Genus: Pulsatilla
Mill.
Synonyms [1]
  • Anetilla Galushko
  • Miyakea Miyabe & Tatew.
  • Preonanthus Ehrh.

The genus Pulsatilla contains about 40 species of herbaceous perennial 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.

Contents

Taxonomy

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 circumscribed Anemone. [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, 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]

Species

The Pasque flower: Fred Rumsey, Botanist, The Natural History Museum.
Pulsatilla alpina subsp. apiifolia Pulsatilla alpina subsp apiifolia RF.jpg
Pulsatilla alpina subsp. apiifolia
Pulsatilla nuttalliana Pulsatilla nuttalliana Manitoba May 2019.jpg
Pulsatilla nuttalliana
Pulsatilla vulgaris fruit Pulsatilla vulgaris bokeh.jpg
Pulsatilla vulgaris fruit

As of March 2024, Plants of the World Online listed the following species in the genus Pulsatilla: [1]

Plants of the World Online also listed a number of named hybrids: [1]

Cultural significance

Pulsatilla nuttalliana (as the synonym P. patens) is the provincial flower of Manitoba, Canada [9] and (as the synonym P. hirsutissima) the state flower of the US state of South Dakota. [10] Pulsatilla vulgaris is the County flower for both Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire in England. [11] Pulsatilla vernalis is the county flower of Oppland, Norway. The UK has introduced the UK biodiversity action plan to address the 49% decline in wild Pulsatilla species. [2]

Use and toxicity

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]

Related Research Articles

<i>Anemone</i> Genus of flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae

Anemone is a genus of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Plants of the genus are commonly called windflowers. They are native to the temperate and subtropical regions of all continents except Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica. The genus is closely related to several other genera including Anemonoides, Anemonastrum, Hepatica, and Pulsatilla. Some botanists include these genera within Anemone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ranunculaceae</span> Family of eudicot flowering plants

Ranunculaceae is a family of over 2,000 known species of flowering plants in 43 genera, distributed worldwide.

<i>Pulsatilla vulgaris</i> Species of flowering plant

Pulsatilla vulgaris, the pasqueflower, is a species of flowering plant belonging to the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), found locally on calcareous grassland in Europe, and widely cultivated in gardens. It was considered part of the genus Anemone, to which it is closely related. Several sources still list Anemone pulsatilla as the accepted name, with Pulsatilla vulgaris as a synonym.

<i>Pulsatilla alpina</i> Species of flowering plant

Pulsatilla alpina, the alpine pasqueflower or alpine anemone, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to the mountain ranges of central and southern Europe, from central Spain to Croatia. It is an herbaceous perennial growing to 15–30 cm (6–12 in) tall by 20 cm (8 in) wide, and can be found at altitudes of 1,200–2,700 m (3,900–8,900 ft).

<i>Pulsatilla vernalis</i> Species of flowering plant

Pulsatilla vernalis is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to mountainous habitats in Europe. Growing to 10 cm (4 in) high and wide, it is a semi-evergreen perennial with hairy, divided leaves. In early spring it bears anemone-like flowers which are up to 6 cm (2 in) in diameter, white flushed with violet on the outer surface of the petals, and prominent yellow stamens.

<i>Pulsatilla pratensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Pulsatilla pratensis, the small pasque flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to central and eastern Europe, from southeast Norway and western Denmark south and east to Bulgaria. It grows from near sea level in the north of the range, up to 2,100 m (6,900 ft) in the south of its range.

<i>Anemonastrum canadense</i> Species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae

Anemonastrum canadense, synonym Anemone canadensis, the Canada anemone, round-headed anemone, round-leaf thimbleweed, meadow anemone, windflower, or crowfoot, is a herbaceous perennial flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae. It is native to moist meadows, thickets, streambanks, and lakeshores in North America, spreading rapidly by underground rhizomes. It is valued for its white flowers.

Prairie smoke is a common name for several plants and may refer to:

<i>Pulsatilla occidentalis</i> Species of flowering plant

Pulsatilla occidentalis, synonym Anemone occidentalis, the white pasqueflower or western pasqueflower, is a herbaceous species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Individuals are 10–60 cm (3.9–23.6 in) tall, from caudices, with three to six leaves at the base of the plant that are 3-foliolate, each leaflet pinnatifid to dissected in shape. Leaf petioles are 6–10 cm (2.4–3.9 in) long. Leaves have villous hairs and their margins are pinnatifid or dissected. Plants flower briefly mid-spring to mid-summer, usually soon after the ground is exposed by melting snow. The flowers are composed of five to seven sepals, normally white or soft purple, also mixed white and blueish purple, one flower per stem. The sepals are 15–30 mm (0.59–1.18 in) long and 10–17 mm (0.39–0.67 in) wide. Flowers have 150–200 stamens. The fruit occurs in heads rounded to subcylindric in shape, with pedicels 15–20 cm (5.9–7.9 in) long. The achenes are ellipsoid in shape, not winged, covered with villous hairs, with beaks curved that reflex as they age and 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) long, feather-like. Generally, the fruit persists into fall.

<i>Anemonoides</i> Genus of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae

Anemonoides is a genus of flowering plants in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae. Plants of the genus are native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, on the continents of North America, Europe, and Asia. The generic name Anemonoides means "anemone-like", a reminder that many of the species were formerly included within the genus Anemone.

<i>Pulsatilla patens</i> Species of flowering plant

Pulsatilla patens is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to Europe, Russia, Mongolia, and China. Common names include Eastern pasqueflower and cutleaf anemone.

<i>Pulsatilla nuttalliana</i> Species of flowering plant

Pulsatilla nuttalliana, known as American pasqueflower, prairie pasqueflower, prairie crocus, or simply pasqueflower, is a flowering plant native to much of North America, from the western side of Lake Michigan, to northern Canada in the Northwest Territories, south to New Mexico in the southwestern United States. Pasqueflower is the provincial flower of Manitoba and the state flower of South Dakota.

<i>Pulsatilla grandis</i> Species of plant

Pulsatilla grandis, the greater pasque flower, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Pulsatilla of the family Ranunculaceae. It is a perennial plant that grows on calcium-rich soil in dry grasslands, in rocky outcrops, and in pine and oak forests. It flowers from February to April, in the time of the Easter, with intensively blue to violet flowers. Its silk stalk is protected from the cold by velvety trichomes (hairs). Pulsatilla grandis is native to the countries of Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, and is particularly frequent in Hungary. In some of them, it is classed as threatened.

<i>Hemerocallis hakuunensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Hemerocallis hakuunensis, known as Baekunsan daylily, is a species in the family Asphodelaceae, native to Korea.

<i>Pulsatilla cernua</i> Species of flowering plant

Pulsatilla cernua, the narrow-leaf pasque-flower, is a species of plant in the family Ranunculaceae. It is a perennial plant. It has dark red/purple flowers with white, silky villose hairs. Pulsatilla cernua flowers from April to May, and then the seeds ripen from May to June. P. cernua is insect pollinated. This plant has both male and female parts, which means it is a hermaphrodite. Most parts of this plant are not edible, except for the roots and leaves.

<i>Anemonastrum</i> Genus of Ranunculaceae plants

Anemonastrum is a genus of flowering plants in the family Ranunculaceae. Plants of the genus are native to the temperate and subarctic regions of North America, Greenland, Europe, Asia, South America, and New Zealand. The generic name Anemonastrum means "somewhat like anemone", a reference to the Anemone genus of closely related plants. It chiefly differs from Anemone in having a base chromosome number of x=7, as opposed to x=8.

<i>Lagotis</i> (plant) Genus of plants

Lagotis is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Plantaginaceae.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Pulsatilla". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  2. 1 2 Fowler, Alys. (March 2005). "Pulsatilla". Horticulture Week; Teddington. 20. ProQuest   225454561.
  3. "Prairie Pasque". South Dakota Magazine . April 6, 2016. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  4. "Pulsatilla Mill". ipni.org. International Plant Names Index. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  5. 1 2 Sramkó, 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.
  6. Jiang, Nan; Zhou, Zhuang; Yang, Jun-Bo; Zhang, Shu-Dong; Guan, Kai-Yun; Tan, Yun-Hong & Yu, Wen-Bin (2017-03-31). "Phylogenetic reassessment of tribe Anemoneae (Ranunculaceae): Non-monophyly of Anemone s.l. revealed by plastid datasets". PLOS ONE. 12 (3): 0174792. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1274792J. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174792 .
  7. 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 . PMC   6794950 . PMID   31649688.
  8. 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.
  9. Government of Manitoba. "Symbols of Manitoba". Archived from the original on 2005-12-10. Retrieved 2011-04-10.
  10. Chapter 1 2005 South Dakota Legislative Manual The Mount Rushmore State
  11. Plantlife website County Flowers page Archived 2015-04-30 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Edible and Medicinal plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN   0-87842-359-1
  13. Yarnell, E. and Abascal, K. (2001) Botanical Treatments for Depression: Part 2 - Herbal Corrections for Mood Imbalances
  14. 1 2 3 Vaughan, 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.