American pasqueflower

not listed

N4 - Apparently Secure

SNR - Unranked

not listed

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.

4″ to 16″

White sepals, yellow center

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

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.

This is the state flower of South Dakota.

Sources

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

Native

Common

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.

first Pasqueflower!

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.

Pasque Flowers....

Pasque Flower and Granite Stone...

Young Plant

Mature Plant

Plant in Fruit

Flower

Infructescence

Mounded Leaves

Basal Leaves

Stem Leaves

Location: Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Weaver Dunes Unit

first Pasqueflower!

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.

Location: Frenchman’s Bluff SNA

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.