Pulsatilla cernua
is a perennial herb growing in sunny grasslands, significantly
hairy. Radical leaves are bipinnately compound, with long petioles,
and the leaflets cleft afresh into 2-3 segments. As the flower
stalks grow up to as high as 10 cm, flowers bloom, and still, they
extend more to reach about 40cm in height when flowering ends.
On-stem leaves, petiole-less and bonding at bases together, are in a
whorl of three, each thinly cleft into leaflets. Flower buds singly
emerge on the tips of flower stalks and bloom facing downwards. The
bell-shaped flowers measure approximately 3cm in diameter, with no
petals; sepals are petal-like, 6 in number; insides are dark
purple-red, and outsides look whitish, since being covered densely
with silky white hairs. There are many stamens in the same way as
pistils; long hairs are close together on styles. Bloom time:
April-May. |