Pasqueflower-Anemone pulsatilla-Easter flower photo

Pasqueflower, commonly known as the prairie crocus, Easter Flower, and meadow anemone is native to meadows and prairies of North America and Asia, also limestone pastures in central and northern Europe.
The name pasqueflower ( Anemone pulsatilla ) comes from its blooming time, around Easter(Passover). This pretty flower is a member of the buttercup family - Ranunculaceae.

The color range of the bell shaped flowers is from dark lavender to almost white with bright yellow stamens in the center of the flower.
The short flower stems are covered with silky hairs and the plant gives an appearance of haze from the distance, the reason pulsatilla is also called prairie smoke.

There are small differences between pasqueflower (pulsatilla) subspecies on diferent continents like
- Pulsatilla vulgaris-European pasqueflower;
- Pulsatilla patens - American pasqueflower-
- Pulsatilla occidentalis - white pasqueflower
but in essence they all are of legendary beauty, a herald of spring and a symbol of old age (because of the silvery flower head).
Different varieties of the Pasque flower are the floral emblems of various territories and states.

Mother nature gifted this pretty flower not just with an amazing color combination but with a powerful auto-protection: it is highly toxic, slowing the heart in humans inducing even coma.
Like all poisons, it has been used as a medicine for centuries in different parts of the world. Plant extracts are used as a sedatives and for treating coughs and also used as an initial ingredient in homeopathic remedies, in a diluted form.