Pulsatilla vulgaris (L.) Mill. - Plantlife

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Contents 1 Morphology, identification, taxonomy and genetics 1.1 Morphology and identification 1.2 Taxonomic considerations 1.3 Genetic implications 1.4 Medicinal properties 2 Distribution and current status 2.1 World 2.2 Europe 2.3 United Kingdom 2.3.1 England 2.3.1.1 Native populations 2.3.1.2 Introductions 2.3.2 Northern Ireland, Scotland & Wales 3 Ecology and life cycle 3.1 Life cycle and phenology 3.1.1 Flowering phenology 3.1.2 Flower biology 3.1.3 Pollination 3.1.4 Seed production 3.1.5 Seed viability and germination 3.1.6 Seed dispersal 3.1.7 Regeneration 3.1.8 Response to competition 3.1.9 Herbivory, parasites and disease 4 Habitat requirements 4.1 The landscape perspective 4.2 Communities & vegetation 4.3 Summary of habitat requirements 5 Management implications 6 Threats/factors leading to loss or decline or limiting recovery 7 Current conservation measures 7.1 In situ Measures 7.2 Ex situ Measures 7.3 Research Data 7.4 Monitoring and the Common Monitoring Standard 8 References 9 Contacts 10 Links 11 Annex 1 – site descriptions 13 Annex 2 – changes in population size, 1960-2006 14 Annex 3 – associates 2
1 Morphology, identification, taxonomy and genetics 1.1 Morphology and identification Hemicryptophyte; 2-15 cm, extending to ca. 45 cm in fruit. Rhizome obliquely erect or vertical, branching, black, 2-17 mm thick, eventually decaying to form new plants. New leaf rosettes arising from the branches of the rhizome by growth of lateral buds, producing groups of leaf rosettes connected below ground by an anastomosing rhizome system. The remains of old leaf bases protect the overwintering buds at the apex of the rhizome. Basal leaves up to 11 from each rhizome apex, bipinnatisect, silky-hairy and forming a rosette. Ascending, developing during anthesis and withering in the autumn (occasionally over-wintering). Petiole to 21 cm, blade to 11 × 7 cm, 2- to 4- pinnate. Cauline leaves 2(-4), sessile, 1.7-5.3 cm, smaller and more deeply divided into linear segments (only slightly lobed), white-hairy and reaching the perianth during most of the flowering period. All leaves silky-hairy at least initially, the basal with pubescent petioles. On emergence the silky-villose leaves are tightly curled around the apical growing points. Flowers solitary, terminal, erect at first but drooping after a few days, and becoming bell-shaped (campanulate) (Fig. 1a). Buds develop during late summer and become dormant over the winter months when they are protected by a dense covering of silky-villose hairs and the remains of the previous year’s leaves. Pedicel up to 8 cm and bent over less than 90º at anthesis, elongating to 25 cm in fruit. Perianth-segments 6, 16- 42 × 4-17 mm, deep violet-purple in British plants, more blue to violet-blue on the Continent, darker on the inside, paler and silky on the outside (rarely white or pink), subequal, only slightly curving outwards apically. Petals fading and becoming bleached after about a week. Stamens numerous, 50-120 per flower, crowded, the outermost shorter, sterile, club-shaped and secreting nectar. Staminodes and fertile stamens not more than half as long as perianth segments, 15-25 mm; filaments stout at the base, tapering to the adnately attached anthers, which are bright golden-yellow before fading. Styles purple, borne on a flattened, conical, receptacle, 30-90 per flower, each with a single functional ovule. Fruit is an achene, 2-3 mm long, with a single embryo, covered with simple, silky hairs and with a persistent feathery style 3.5-5 cm long. The internode between the stem leaves and flower elongates considerably after flowering, increasing the height at which the achenes are released (Fig. 1b). Flowers 1- 3(-12) per plant, actinomorphic, hermaphrodite and protogynous in England, pollinated by a variety of insects, especially bees (Apidae: Apis, Bombus). 1.2 Taxonomic considerations The common name Pasque Flower has several derivations; one is reputedly from the Latin pascha, meaning Easter, as Easter eggs were often stained by rubbing the eggs with the flowers and leaves for celebration. Originally the flower was known by the French as the ‘passe-fleur’, and then changed by Gerard (who considered it to be a worthy addition to the herbaceous border) to the ‘Pasque Flower’ on account of the flowers appearing around Easter time (Smith, 1996). 3
Page 1: Pulsatilla vulgaris (L.) Mill. Pasq
Page 5 and 6: Pulsatilla is now generally accepte
Page 7 and 8: 2 Distribution and current status 2
Page 9 and 10: UK VU Declined from ca.130 to 18 lo
Page 11 and 12: English populations, the overall nu
Page 13 and 14: surviving in each year, and (c) the
Page 15 and 16: maturation before the male (andro-
Page 17 and 18: 3.1.6 Seed dispersal Achenes of Pul
Page 19 and 20: the sward and thereby determining t
Page 21 and 22: Table 6 - Chemical and mechanical a
Page 23 and 24: Figure 9 continued. Habitats of Pul
Page 25 and 26: Cavenham Heath) support extensive a
Page 27 and 28: Kalliovirta et al., 2006). There ar
Page 29 and 30: Losses to ploughing and quarrying c
Page 31 and 32: . (a) Sites in good condition, graz
Page 33 and 34: Quarry, Ancaster 1996 Most scratche
Page 35 and 36: 7.4 Monitoring and the Common Monit
Page 37 and 38: Kalliovirta, M., Ryttäri, T. & Hei
Page 39 and 40: Warden, K. 2001. An investigation i
Page 41 and 42: 11 Annex 1 - site descriptions Desc
Page 43 and 44: Historically Pulsatilla has been re
Page 45 and 46: In the 1960s a small population occ
Page 47 and 48: introduced by the National Trust le
Page 49 and 50: 13 Annex 2 - changes in population
Page 51 and 52: Annex 3 continued. All sites Limest

Pulsatilla vulgaris (L.) Mill. - Plantlife

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