Adonis vernalis

Taxobox | name = "Adonis vernalis"

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image_width = 250px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Ranunculales
familia = Ranunculaceae
genus = "Adonis"
species = "A. vernalis"
binomial = "Adonis vernalis"
binomial_authority = L.

"Adonis vernalis", known variously as "pheasant's eye", "spring pheasant's eye", "yellow pheasant's eye" and "false hellebore", is a perennial flowering plant found in dry meadows and steppes in Eurasia. Isolated populations are found from Spain in the west across central and southern Europe, reaching southern Sweden in the north, with its main area of distribution being the Pannonian Basin and the West Siberian Plain [cite web|url=http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/di/ranuncula/adoni/adonver.html|title=Den virtuella floran: "Adonis vernalis"|accessdate=17 April|accessyear=2006] . In contrast to most other European "Adonis" species, the flowers appear in springtime, and are up to 80 mm in diameter, with up to 20 bright yellow petals.

The plant is poisonous, containing cardiostimulant compounds, such as adonidin and aconitic acid [cite web|url=http://www.henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/kings/adonis.html|title=King's American Dispensatory: "Adonis"|accessdate=17 April|accessyear=2006] . In addition, it is often used as a ornamental plant. [cite book | author=Bailey, L. H. | title= [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/9550 Manual of Gardening (Second Edition).] | year=2005 | publisher=Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation] .

(Green false hellebore, sometimes also called simply "false hellebore," is "Veratrum viride", a member of the lily family.)

References

External links

* [http://www.topwalks.net/plants/yellow/adonis_vernalis_more.htm Adonis vernalis in Topwalks]