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.
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
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.
PMID30831271.
^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.
ISBN978-89-6811-275-1. Retrieved 2024-03-25.