Anemone pratensis

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Meadow Pasqueflower
• Small Pasque Flower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Ranunculales, it is classified under the family Ranunculaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Pulsatilla.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Moving toward the center of the continent, the species is also found within Middle Europe. Specifically, it inhabits the landscapes of Austria. Finally, its range extends through the Czechia-Slovakia region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pulsatilla pratensis is characterized by its preference for specific terrain types and varying elevations, ranging from lowland areas to higher altitudes. This species is typically found colonizing forest environments and forest edges, where it benefits from the transitional light conditions provided by the margins of wooded areas. It further extends its distribution across hilly and mountainous landscapes, demonstrating an ability to adapt to the varying microclimates and slopes associated with these topographies. Additionally, the plant exhibits a notable affinity for sandy substrates, where it can establish itself within these well-drained soil compositions.

Habitat :

forest, forest edges, hills, mountains, sand

Life history

The life history of Pulsatilla pratensis is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons within its habitat. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by the leaf litter or the ground itself during unfavorable periods. This species exhibits a deciduous growth habit, shedding its foliage as it enters dormancy. Its developmental strategy ensures survival through seasonal shifts, utilizing its specialized life form to navigate the transitions between its active growing phases and its dormant stages.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pulsatilla pratensis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a vine, and it grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. As a terrestrial species, it is not aquatic or semiaquatic. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits a relatively low profile, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.07 m to a maximum of 0.3 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.175 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.175 m

Plant height min:

0.07 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pulsatilla pratensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for many temperate herbaceous perennials that thrive in environments where water conservation through specialized carbon fixation is less critical than maximizing light capture efficiency. The plant exhibits a mean leaf size of approximately 23.4525 cm², reflecting its structural capacity for light interception within its natural habitat. Furthermore, the Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of the species averages 86.1 cm²/g, a metric that provides insight into its leaf morphology and resource allocation strategies, balancing the metabolic costs of leaf construction with the functional requirements of photosynthetic efficiency.

Leaf size mean:

23.4525 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

86.1 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pulsatilla pratensis is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period that begins in April and concludes in June. The plant relies on biotic pollination mechanisms, specifically utilizing an insect pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization, as self-fertilization is notably absent. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds with a highly consistent mass, ranging from a minimum of 0.00201 g to a maximum of 0.00201 g, with a calculated mean seed mass of approximately 0.002175 g. Once matured, the dispersal of these seeds is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are primarily dispersed by the wind.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jun

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.00201 g

Seed mass mean:

0.002175 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pulsatilla pratensis has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Protoanemonin.

Protoanemonin

1. Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP