Pulsatilla alpina

Alpine pasqueflower
Pulsatilla alpina subsp. schneebergensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Order:	Ranunculales
Family:	Ranunculaceae
Genus:	Pulsatilla
Species:	P. alpina
Binomial name
Pulsatilla alpina (L.) Delarbre
Subspecies
P. a. subsp. alba P. a. subsp. alpina P. a. subsp. apiifolia P. a. subsp. austroalpina P. a. subsp. cantabrica P. a. subsp. cyrnea P. a. subsp. schneebergensis

Pulsatilla alpina, alpine pasqueflower, or alpine anemone is an alpine plant found in the mountain ranges of central and southern Europe from central Spain to Croatia. It grows between 1200 m above sea level and 2700 m, and is mildly toxic.

Characteristics

Pulsatilla alpina has more upright flowers than other species of Pulsatilla, which generally have drooping flowers. They are white or, in the case of subsp. apiifolia, yellow. The flowers are produced very early, often opening while still under snow cover.

Subspecies

A number of subspecies are recognised, based largely on the form and hairiness of the leaves. P. alpina subsp. schneebergensis is endemic to the easternmost Northern Calcareous Alps of Austria, and is named after the mountain Schneeberg. It is replaced further west by the widespread taxon P. alpina subsp. alpina. P. alpina subsp. austroalpina is found in the Southern Calcareous Alps from Switzerland eastwards, most commonly over dolomite. P. alpina subsp. apiifolia and P. alpina subsp. alba grow over siliceous rock, but are easily distinguished by the flower colour. Further subspecies have been named for local variants in the Cantabrian Mountains (subsp. cantabrica) and Corsica (subsp. cyrnea).

Gallery

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  Pulsatilla alba at Bothanic Garden, Poznań, Poland.

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  Fruit of P. alpina ssp. alpina growing at an altitude of 2000 m at Schynige Platte, Switzerland.

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  Fruit.

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  Pulsatilla alba (P. alpina subsp. alpicola) in Retezat Mountains, Romania.

See also

• Pulsatilla koreana
• Pulsatilla patens
• Pulsatilla cernua

References

• "Pulsatilla". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=18797. 
• 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

External links

• Pulsatilla alpina/Swiss Mountain Leader
• PlantFiles: Detailed information on Alpine Pasque-flower Pulsatilla alpina subsp. apiifolia
• Pasque flower, Pulsatilla alpina - Perennial Plants - Ranunculaceae garden
• (Pulsatilla nigricans),(Pulsatilla alpina),(Pulsatilla montana),(Рulsatilla vulgaris),(Pulsatilla patens),(Pulsatilla halleri) (Russian)
• Index synonymique France PU-PZ
• N.IT. - Pulsatilla alpina subsp. austriaca P1110