Description: This native perennial plant is about
½' tall when it blooms, but later becomes up to 1½' tall. It
consists of a few basal leaves and a single flowering stalk with a whorl of 3
leaves. The flowering stalk is densely covered with long white hairs that are
soft and silky. The basal leaves are palmately divided in
compound linear
lobes. Each of these linear lobes often have a few coarse teeth along their
margins. The upper surface of each basal leaf is relatively hairless, but the
lower surface often has long white hairs that are soft and silky. Each basal
leaf develops from a long petiole that is hairy like the flowering stalk and
lower surface of the leaf blade. The whorled leaves are similar to the basal
leaves, except that they are sessile and smaller in size. Above the whorled
leaves, is a stout hairy peduncle that bears a single large flower at its apex.
This peduncle continues to elongated after the flower sheds its petals. Each
flower is up to 3" across when fully open, consisting of 5-8 petal-like sepals,
an elongated cluster of white to purple styles, and a ring of numerous yellow
stamens. There are no petals. The sepals are pale purple to deep purple and
softly hairy on their exterior surface. The blooming period occurs during early
to mid-spring and lasts about 2 weeks. The flowers are short-lived and usually
bloom on spring days that are sunny and warm. After shedding their sepals, the
styles of the flowers become plumose and elongated (individually up to
1½" long); they have a silky appearance. At the base of each mature
style, there is a flattened achene. Because of their plumose styles, these
achenes can be blown about by the wind. The root system consists of a woody
taproot; this becomes swollen into a caudex on older plants, from which several
flowering stalks may develop. Pasque Flower spreads into new areas by reseeding
itself.
Cultivation: The preference
is full sun, dry conditions, and a gritty soil containing gravel or rocky
material. Root rot can be a problem if the soil becomes waterlogged from poor
drainage. Barren areas with scant ground vegetation are preferred as this
reduces competition from other plants.
Range
& Habitat: Pasque Flower is an uncommon plant that occurs only
in extreme northern Illinois (see
Distribution
Map). It has been exterminated from many areas because of modern
development. This species is native to both North America and Eurasia. Habitats
include hill prairies, gravel prairies, and barrens with scant woody
vegetation. This species is grown in flower gardens because of its showy
flowers; such
cultivated plants may consist of the typical variety
from Eurasia, or Anemone patens patens. The variety from North America
is referred to as Anemone patens multifida. They are difficult to
distinguish, but the Eurasia variety has flowers in a greater range of
colors.
Faunal Associations:
According to Müeller (1873/1883) of Germany, bees are attracted to the
flowers, which offer abundant pollen and minute amounts of nectar. In North
America, Halictid bees have been observed collecting the pollen; this includes
the species Agapostemon texanus texanus and Halictus rubicunda.
The foliage contains a blistering agent and is poisonous, which deters
consumption by mammalian herbivores.
Photographic Location: A flower garden in Urbana,
Illinois. The flower in the upper photograph is only partially
open.
Comments: This is one of the
earliest flowers to bloom in a prairie. A scientific synonym for this species
is Pulsatilla patens. The common name refers to the religious holiday of
Easter, when the flowers are often in bloom. The Pasque Flower has larger
flowers than other Anemone spp. (Anemones), and it is unusual in having
elongated plumose styles. It shares this characteristic with many Clematis
spp., which are twining vines in the Buttercup
family.