Pulsatilla pratensis (syn. Anemone pratensis), the small pasque flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ranunculaceae, native to central and eastern Europe, from southeast Norway and western Denmark south and east to Bulgaria. It grows from near sea level in the north of the range, up to 2100 m in the south of its range.

Name

The Latin specific epithet pratensis means "from the meadow", referring to one of its typical habitats.

Description

It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 8-30 cm tall. The leaves are finely divided and thread-like, and densely covered with silvery hairs. The flowers are 2-3 cm long, pendulous, bell-like, the tepals with reflexed tips; flower colour varies from purple in the north of the species' range to greenish-violet in the south. The flowers are hermaphrodite, and are pollinated by bees; flowering is from early to mid spring.

Subspecies

There are a number of subspecies: Pulsatilla pratensis subsp. hungarica grows in E Slovakia, NE Hungary and NW Romania. In Slovakia and Romania it is categorized as critically endangered CR. In Hungary it is protected by law. It occurs on open sand-plains and avoids limestone. In Hungary it can be found in two regions, the Nyírség and Bodrogköz.

Cultivation and uses

This plant is toxic, but can be dissipated through heat or drying.