Pasque flower

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Pasque flower

Pulsatilla vulgaris

Kingdom:	Plantae
Phylum:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Ranunculaceae
Genus:	Pulsatilla Mill.

Species

Pulsatilla alpina
Pulsatilla grandis
Pulsatilla halleri
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.

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. The pasque flower is the official 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.

Pasque flower is highly toxic, and produces cardiogenic toxins and oxytoxins which slow the heart in humans, and has been used as a medicine by Native Americans for centuries. Blackfeet Indians used Pasque Flower to induce abortions and childbirth.

[edit] 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