Pulsatilla pratensis

Pulsatilla pratensis (small pasque flower) is a species of the genus Pulsatilla, 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.[1][2]

Pulsatilla pratensis
Plant of subsp. bohemica in flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
Order:
Ranunculales
Family:
Ranunculaceae
Genus:
Pulsatilla
Species:
P. pratensis
Binomial name
Pulsatilla pratensis

Description

It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 8–30 cm (3–12 in) tall. The leaves are finely divided and thread-like, and densely covered with silvery hairs. The flowers are 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) long, pendulous, bell-like, the tepals with reflexed tips; flower colour varies from purple in the north of the species' range to greenish-violet in the south. The flowers are hermaphrodite, and are pollinated by bees; flowering is from early to mid spring.[2][3]

Subspecies

There are four subspecies:[1][4]

  • Pulsatilla pratensis subsp. pratensis
  • Pulsatilla pratensis subsp. bohemica Skalický
  • Pulsatilla pratensis subsp. hungarica Soó
  • Pulsatilla pratensis subsp. nigricans (Störck) Zämelis
Seedhead of subsp. hungarica

Pulsatilla pratensis subsp. hungarica grows in E Slovakia,[5] NE Hungary and NW Romania.[6] In Slovakia and Romania it is categorized as critically endangered CR. In Hungary it is protected by law.[7] It occurs on open sand-plains and avoids limestone. In Hungary it can be found in two regions, the Nyírség and Bodrogköz.[8]

Cultivation and uses

This plant is toxic, but can be dissipated through heat or drying.

References
  1. Flora Europaea: Pulsatilla pratensis
  2. Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. ISBN 0-340-40170-2.
  3. Plants of Hungary: Pulsatilla pratensis (in Hungarian)
  4. Naturfoto: Pulsatilla pratensis subsp. bohemica (in Czech)
  5. Pulsatilla hungarica in Slovakia
  6. Pulsatilla hungarica in Romania
  7. European plant data sheets: Plant conservation in Hungary Archived 2007-08-19 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Tibor, Simon (2000). A magyarországi edényes flóra határozója : harasztok - virágos növények (in Hungarian). Nemzeti Tankönyvkiadó. ISBN 9631903494.
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