Pulsatilla vulgaris
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Synonyms: Pulsatilla transsilvanica, Pulsatilla amoena, Anemone montana var. henryi, Pulsatilla vulgaris subsp. glabra, Pulsatilla recta, Anemone bogenhardiana, Pulsatilla vulgaris var. leopoliensis, Anemone pulsatilla subsp. nutans, Pulsatilla vulgaris subsp. leopoliensis, Pulsatilla media, Anemone pulsatilla subsp. praecox, Pulsatilla oenipontana, Pulsatilla vulgaris var. touranginiana, Anemone pisciensis, Pulsatilla vulgaris var. bogenhardiana, Pulsatilla vulgaris var. germanica, Pulsatilla vulgaris var. costeana, Anemone pulsatilla f. amoena, Anemone pulsatilla subsp. bogenhardiana, Anemone collina, Pulsatilla vulgaris subsp. anglica, Pulsatilla vulgaris var. anglica, Pulsatilla vulgaris var. pallidiflora, Pulsatilla vulgaris var. parviflora, Pulsatilla vulgaris var. serotina, Pulsatilla vulgaris var. alpigena, Pulsatilla vulgaris subsp. germanica, Anemone pulsatilla f. henryi, Pulsatilla aperta, Anemone pulsatilla f. linnaeana, Pulsatilla pulsatilla, Anemone acutipetala, Anemone punica, Anemone pulsatilla var. lilacina, Pulsatilla germanica, Pulsatilla bogenhardiana, Anemone pulsatilla f. laciniata, Pulsatilla vulgaris subsp. oenipontana
Western Herbalism Properties
Botanical Description
Pulsatilla vulgaris, the pasque flower, is a herbaceous perennial in the family Ranunculaceae growing from an upright rhizome that doubles as a food-storage organ. Plants form a basal rosette of finely dissected, soft, silvery-grey hairy leaves and stand 15–30 cm tall, lengthening to about 40 cm in fruit, with roots reaching some 1 m deep. In early spring the silky, nodding bell-shaped flowers, typically violet-purple but occasionally red or white in cultivated forms, open before the leaves are fully expanded; each is surrounded by a ruff of feathery bracts. The flowers are followed by characteristic plumose seed-heads of long-tailed achenes that persist on the stem for many weeks. Native to calcareous grasslands of central, eastern and northwestern Europe, the species favours sparsely wooded pine forest and sunny chalk and limestone slopes, and is widely cultivated as a garden ornamental. The fresh plant is acridly toxic and must be dried before any medicinal use.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.