Pasqueflower

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Pasque-flower
• Pasqueflower
• European Pasqueflower
• Purple Pasqueflower

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Anemone acutipetala
• Pulsatilla vulgaris var. leopoliensis
• Anemone bogenhardiana
• Anemone collina
• Pulsatilla vulgaris subsp. leopoliensis
• Pulsatilla aperta
• Pulsatilla transsilvanica
• Pulsatilla amoena
• Pulsatilla germanica
• Pulsatilla vulgaris subsp. oenipontana
• Pulsatilla vulgaris var. pallidiflora
• Pulsatilla vulgaris var. parviflora
• Anemone pulsatilla
• Pulsatilla vulgaris var. alpigena
• Anemone pulsatilla f. henryi
• Anemone pulsatilla subsp. bogenhardiana
• Anemone pisciensis
• Anemone pulsatilla proles amoena
• Anemone pratensis
• Anemone pulsatilla f. laciniata
• Anemone punica
• Pulsatilla vulgaris var. touranginiana
• Anemone intermedia
• Pulsatilla vulgaris var. bogenhardiana
• Anemone pulsatilla proles linnaeana
• Anemone pulsatilla var. lilacina
• Anemone montana var. henryi
• Anemone pulsatilla subsp. nutans
• Pulsatilla vulgaris var. costeana
• Anemone pulsatilla proles amoena
• Pulsatilla vulgaris var. alba
• Pulsatilla vulgaris subsp. bogenhardiana
• Pulsatilla vulgaris var. oenipontana
• Pulsatilla vulgaris subsp. anglica
• Pulsatilla vulgaris var. anglica
• Anemone pulsatilla subsp. praecox
• Pulsatilla vulgaris var. germanica
• Pulsatilla vulgaris subsp. germanica
• Pulsatilla vulgaris subsp. glabra
• Pulsatilla vulgaris var. serotina
• Pulsatilla oenipontana
• Pulsatilla media
• Pulsatilla bogenhardiana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ranunculales, falling within the family Ranunculaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic identification is placed under the genus Pulsatilla.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across several regions in Northern Europe. Within this area, its presence can be observed throughout the diverse landscapes of Denmark and Finland. It also grows naturally across the various terrains of Great Britain. Furthermore, the species is found in the northern territories of Norway. Finally, its geographical range extends into the natural environments of Sweden.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Pulsatilla vulgaris is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its habitat through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or the earth itself during dormant periods. This hemicryptophytic growth strategy enables the plant to emerge effectively each spring to complete its reproductive cycle.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pulsatilla vulgaris is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This independent plant, which does not function as a parasite, is self-supporting rather than being a climber. It typically exhibits a relatively low stature, with a plant height that ranges from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.2 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.15 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.2 m

Plant height mean:

0.15 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pulsatilla vulgaris is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for many temperate perennial herbs that operate in environments where carbon fixation occurs via the Calvin cycle without specialized adaptations for high-temperature water conservation. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying entirely on autotrophic processes and soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Morphologically, its foliage is defined by a mean leaf size of approximately 18.23625 cm², which contributes to its overall resource acquisition strategy. This is further quantified by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 100.92 cm²/g, a physiological metric that reflects the plant's investment in leaf thickness relative to its surface area, indicating a balance between light interception efficiency and the metabolic costs of leaf construction.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

18.23625 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

100.92 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pulsatilla vulgaris is primarily driven by sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is notably absent. The flowering period typically begins in March and concludes in April, during which the plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes. Specifically, the pollination process is mediated by insects, with bees serving as key pollinators to facilitate fertilization, especially since self-fertilization is absent in this species. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruits classified as achenes. These fruits are indehiscent and contain seeds with a mean mass of approximately 0.0032188335 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00277 g to a maximum of 0.00385 g. Seed dispersal is characterized by an anemochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are dispersed by the wind, allowing the species to spread across its habitat.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Apr

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00385 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0032188335 g

Seed mass min:

0.00277 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Pulsatilla vulgaris has 10 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anemonin, Protoanemonin, Ranunculin, SAPONIN, Steroids.

Anemonin

1. Dr. Duke

Protoanemonin

1. Dr. Duke

Ranunculin

1. Dr. Duke

SAPONIN

1. Dr. Duke

Steroids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Tannin

1. Dr. Duke

glucose

1. Dr. Duke

kaempferol

1. Dr. Duke

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke

resin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Pulsatilla vulgaris has 210 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor, ATPase-Inhibitor, Acetylcholinergic, Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor.

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Amebicide

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Pulsatilla vulgaris has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer

1. International journal of molecular sciences