The genus
Pulsatilla was first formally named in 1754 by the English botanist
Philip Miller. The
type species is
Pulsatilla vulgaris, the European pasque flower. The genus is placed in the tribe
Anemoneae within the family
Ranunculaceae. The tribe has been shown repeatedly to be
monophyletic in
molecular phylogenetic studies, but the number of genera recognized within the tribe and their relationship has varied. Multiple studies have shown that
Pulsatilla forms a monophyletic group, but the rank assigned to the group has differed. In one approach,
Pulsatilla is treated as a section within a more broadly
circumscribed Anemone. In another approach, molecular phylogenetic evidence is used to separate
Pulsatilla from
Anemone as a separate genus, dividing it into three subgenera. Morphologically,
Pulsatilla can be distinguished from
Anemone by the long hairy beak on the
achenes formed by the persistent
style and stamens.
Pulsatilla species can also be distinguished by
DNA barcoding. , many sources, such as
Plants of the World Online and the
Flora of Korea, support the treatment of
Pulsatilla as a distinct genus.
Species '' '' '' fruit ,
Plants of the World Online listed the following species in the genus
Pulsatilla: Plants of the World Online also listed a number of named hybrids: •
Pulsatilla × bolzanensis Murr •
Pulsatilla × celakovskyana Domin •
Pulsatilla × emiliana (F.O.Wolf) Beauverd •
Pulsatilla × gayeri Simonk. •
Pulsatilla × girodii (Rouy) P.Fourn. •
Pulsatilla × hackelii Pohl •
Pulsatilla × knappii (Palez.) Palez. •
Pulsatilla × mixta Halácsy •
Pulsatilla × weberi (Widder) Janch. ex Holub •
Pulsatilla × wilczekii (F.O.Wolf ex Hegi) P.Fourn. •
Pulsatilla × yanbianensis H.Z.Lv ==Cultural significance==