American pasqueflower

(Anemone patens var. multifida)

Conservation Status
American pasqueflower
 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

     
  NatureServe

N4 - Apparently Secure

SNR - Unranked

     
  Minnesota

not listed

     
           
           
 
Description
 
 

American pasqueflower is an erect, perennial forb. On young plants it sends up basal leaves and a single flowering stem from a woody taproot. On older plants it sends up basal leaves and multiple flowering stems from an short, branched, ascending or vertical caudex.

There are 3 to 10, but usually 5 to 8, basal leaves. The flowering stem has a whorl of three leaves below the inflorescence. Basal leaves are on leaf stalks that are 2 to 5 long though usually no longer than 4. They are divided into 4 to 6 leaflets. Each leaflet is deeply divided into 2 more or less equal, narrow lobes. The upper surface is sparsely hairy, rarely hairless. The lower surface is densely covered with long, soft, shaggy, but unmatted hairs.

Stem leaves are similar to the basal leaves but are smaller and are attached to the stem without a leak stalk.

The inflorescence is a single flower at the end of a long, stout, stalk. The stalk is densely covered with long, soft, shaggy, but unmatted hairs.

The flowers ar large and showy, up to 3 across. They have 5 to 7 petal-like sepals. There are no petals. The sepals are white on the upper surface. The lower surface is densely hairy and purple or purplish-white, rarely white. There is a central, elongated, column-like cluster of white or purple styles surrounded by 150 to 200 yellow stamens.

The fruit is a flattened achene with a ¾ to 1 long fluffy plume.

 
     
 

Height

 
 

4 to 16

 
     
 

Flower Color

 
 

White sepals, yellow center

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
  No similar species  
     
 
Habitat
 
 

Dry to moderate moisture. Prairies, hillsides, bluffs. Full sun.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Flowering

 
 

Late March to May

American pasqueflower is the first wildflower to bloom in the spring on Minnesota prairies. The weather will determine when the first bloom appears. It has been seen in bloom in southern Minnesota as early as March 31. Dense silky hairs on the stout stem helps to trap warm air on cold spring nights. Look for it on south- or west-facing prairie hillsides.

Though this is a late bloomer it is not an ephemeral—it does not die back to the ground after blooming. The distinctive, low, green, mounded leaves can be seen into late summer if not hidden by dense prairie grasses and forbs. In the fall the leaves turn yellow.

 
     
 

Pests and Diseases

 
 

 

 
     
 
Use
 
 

This is the state flower of South Dakota.

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 24, 28, 30.

 
  4/12/2022      
         
 

Nativity

 
 

Native

 
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Common

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Plantae (green algae and land plants)  
  Subkingdom Viridiplantae (green plants)  
  Infrakingdom Streptophyta (land plants and green algae)  
  Superdivision Embryophyta (land plants)  
  Division Tracheophyta (vascular plants)  
  Subdivision Spermatophytina (seed plants)  
  Class Magnoliopsida (flowering plants)  
  Superorder Ranunculanae  
 

Order

Ranunculales (buttercups, poppies, and allies)  
 

Family

Ranunculaceae (buttercups)  
  Subfamily Ranunculoideae (anemones, buttercups, larkspurs and allies)  
  Tribe Anemoneae (anemones and allies)  
 

Genus

Anemone (anemones and thimbleweeds)  
       
 

Some authoritative sources calls this plant Pulsatilla nuttaliana ssp. multifida, including USDA Plants, BONAP, and Plants of the World Online. Most call it Anemone patens var. multifida, including ITIS, GRIN, NCBI, Flora of North America, and World Flora Online.

 
       
 

Subordinate Taxa

 
       
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Anemone ludoviciana

Anemone multifida

Anemone nuttalliana

Anemone patens ssp. multifida

Anemone patens var. nuttalliana

Anemone patens var. wolfgangiana

Anemone wolfgangiana

Pulsatilla hirsutissima

Pulsatilla ludoviciana

Pulsatilla multifida

Pulsatilla nuttaliana

Pulsatilla nuttaliana ssp. multifida

Pulsatilla nuttaliana ssp. nuttaliana

Pulsatilla patens ssp. asiatica

Pulsatilla patens ssp. hirsutissima

Pulsatilla patens ssp. multifida

Pulsatilla patens var. wolfgangiana

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

American pasqueflower

crocus

cutleaf anemone

pasque flower

pasqueflower

prairie crocus

prairie-crocus

prairie smoke

prairie-smoke

pulsatille

sticky pasqueflower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Achene

A dry, one-chambered, single-seeded fruit, formed from a single carpel, with the seed attached to the membranous outer layer (wall) only by the seed stalk; the wall, formed entirely from the wall of the superior ovary, does not split open at maturity, but relies on decay or predation to release the contents.

 

Caudex

A short, thickened, woody, persistent enlargement of the stem, at or below ground level, used for water storage.

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Nancy Falkum

 
 

first Pasqueflower!

 
    American pasqueflower      
 

Dan W. Andree

 
 

Plant growing at Frenchman's Bluff ...

I was out at Frenchman’s Bluff yesterday 6-25-21 and noticed clumps of this type of plant in areas... Also it appears the west section of the SNA had a recent prescribed burn some time back in Spring 2021. It has already regrown with a lot of diversity and looks really nice. There were a few wildflowers already in bloom and a Black Swallowtail was hanging around on the top of the big hill or bluff. Seemed like the burn was from the top of the big hill/bluff and over to the west SNA boundary. The area of the SNA where you walk in etc. that was left as is. Anyway I plan on going back out there again sometime to see what else takes place.

  American pasqueflower  
           
 

Pasque Flowers....

 
    American pasqueflower      
           
 

Pasque Flower and Granite Stone...

 
    American pasqueflower      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Young Plant

 
    American pasqueflower   American pasqueflower  
           
    American pasqueflower   American pasqueflower  
           
 

Mature Plant

 
    American pasqueflower   American pasqueflower  
           
    American pasqueflower   American pasqueflower  
           
    American pasqueflower      
           
 

Plant in Fruit

 
    American pasqueflower   American pasqueflower  
           
    American pasqueflower   American pasqueflower  
           
 

Flower

 
    American pasqueflower   American pasqueflower  
           
    American pasqueflower   American pasqueflower  
           
    American pasqueflower      
           
 

Infructescence

 
    American pasqueflower   American pasqueflower  
           
 

Mounded Leaves

 
    American pasqueflower      
           
 

Basal Leaves

 
    American pasqueflower   American pasqueflower  
           
 

Stem Leaves

 
  American pasqueflower    

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
Prairie crocus - Collins Hill 2007
Marilylle Soveran
  Prairie crocus - Collins Hill 2007  
Wild Prairie Crocus
crossarthur76
  Wild Prairie Crocus  

 

slideshow

       
 
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Other Videos
 
  Prairie Crocus (Pulsatilla patens)
Wandering Sole TV
 
   
 
About

Published on Apr 24, 2012

Pulsatilla patens

 

 

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Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this plant.

 
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Be sure to include a location.
 
  Nancy Falkum
4/10/2022

Location: Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Weaver Dunes Unit

first Pasqueflower!

 

American pasqueflower  
  Dan W. Andree
6/25/2021

Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA

I was out at Frenchman’s Bluff yesterday 6-25-21 and noticed clumps of this type of plant in areas... Also it appears the west section of the SNA had a recent prescribed burn some time back in Spring 2021. It has already regrown with a lot of diversity and looks really nice. There were a few wildflowers already in bloom and a Black Swallowtail was hanging around on the top of the big hill or bluff. Seemed like the burn was from the top of the big hill/bluff and over to the west SNA boundary. The area of the SNA where you walk in etc. that was left as is. Anyway I plan on going back out there again sometime to see what else takes place.

American pasqueflower

 
  Dan W. Andree
4/4/2021

Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA

American pasqueflower

 
  Dan W. Andree
4/3/2021

Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA

Only seen a couple they seemed to be just starting to bloom. This single bloom was next to this granite stone.

American pasqueflower

 
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

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