Pulsatilla
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Scientific classification Edit this classification
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.

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 nuttalliana
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]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Pulsatilla". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c 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.
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