Pasque flower

Pasque flower

Taxobox
name = Pasque flower



image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Pulsatilla vulgaris"
regnum = Plantae
phylum = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Ranunculales
familia = Ranunculaceae
genus = "Pulsatilla"
genus_authority = Mill.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
*"Pulsatilla alpina"
*"Pulsatilla grandis"
*"Pulsatilla halleri"
*"Pulsatilla montana"
*"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. It also grows in limestone pastures in central and northern Europe and parts of Russia, and locally in southern England from where the Pasque / Parsk / Pask family takes it name.

Pasque refers to Easter (Passover) as the flower blooms around that time of year.

Toxicity

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. [Edible and Medicinal plants of the West, Gregory L. Tilford, ISBN 0-87842-359-1]

References

*
* [http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/wildflowers/anemone_pulsatilla.html 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
* [http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/09AE8029-A000-48F8-B79F-521B7EA87E61/0/pasque.pdf] - Cambridgeshire, UK

Notes


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Pasque flower — Pasque Pasque, n. [OF. pasque.] See {Pasch}. [1913 Webster] {Pasque flower} (Bot.), a name of several plants of the genus {Anemone}, section {Pulsatilla}. They are perennial herbs with rather large purplish blossoms, which appear in early spring …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • pasque flower — ► NOUN ▪ a spring flowering plant with purple flowers and fern like foliage. ORIGIN French passe fleur; later associated with archaic pasque «Easter» …   English terms dictionary

  • pasque flower — noun any plant of the genus Pulsatilla; sometimes included in genus Anemone • Syn: ↑pasqueflower • Hypernyms: ↑wildflower, ↑wild flower • Hyponyms: ↑American pasqueflower, ↑Eastern pas …   Useful english dictionary

  • pasque-flower — paprastoji šilagėlė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Vėdryninių šeimos dekoratyvinis, vaistinis nuodingas augalas (Pulsatilla vulgaris), paplitęs Europoje. atitikmenys: lot. Pulsatilla vulgaris angl. European pasqueflower; laughing parsley;… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • pasque-flower — šilagėlė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Vėdryninių (Ranunculaceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Pulsatilla). atitikmenys: lot. Pulsatilla angl. pasque flower vok. Küchenschelle; Kuhschelle rus. прострел lenk. sasanka …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • pasque-flower — n. a ranunculaceous plant, Pulsatilla vulgaris, with bell shaped purple flowers and fernlike foliage. Also called ANEMONE. Etymology: earlier passe flower f. F passe fleur: assim. to pasque = obs. pasch (as PASCHAL), Easter …   Useful english dictionary

  • pasque flower — [pask, pα:sk] noun a spring flowering plant related to the anemones, with purple flowers and fern like foliage. [Pulsatilla vulgaris.] Origin C16: from Fr. passe fleur; later assoc. with archaic pasque Easter …   English new terms dictionary

  • pasque flower — noun Various deciduous perennial flowering plants, of the genus Pulsatilla, found in clumps in certain grassland areas …   Wiktionary

  • pasque-flower —   n. white or purple flowered anemone like plant …   Dictionary of difficult words

  • Eastern pasque-flower — vėjalandė šilagėlė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Vėdryninių šeimos dekoratyvinis, vaistinis augalas (Pulsatilla patens), paplitęs rytų Europoje, Azijoje ir Šiaurės Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Pulsatilla patens angl. Eastern pasque… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

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